Longboat Observer 12.19.13

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P&Z recommends approval of the Hilton project.

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1929-2013

FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

See who won this year’s Light up the Keys holiday light contest. PAGE 14A

Michael Yourison ‘olives’ the little guys the most.

INSIDE

by Robin Hartill | News Editor

Claire Hunter: ‘Mother’ of the Longboat Observer Claire Hunter, co-owner of the Longboat Observer for 17 years, died Sunday, at home in Bradenton. She was 84.

Courtesy photo

Garrett and Lauren-Taylor Nock thank Sarasota firefighters.

+ Nock, Nock.

Who’s there?

The St. Armands Fire Station got two Nocks at the door Friday, Dec. 6: Garrett Nock, 5, and his sister, Lauren-Taylor, 4, both of Longboat Key, who stopped by after Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands.

The Nocks stopped by to thank firefighters for participating in the parade with their sirens blaring.

Claire Hunter shaped the Longboat Observer in its early days with 18-inch scissors and an X-ACTO knife.

She wielded these tools to ensure each word of text was precisely placed, along with a keen eye for copy editing and a strict adherence to grammar

rules.

Her knack for details balanced her husband, Longboat Observer founder Ralph Hunter.

“He was the dreamer, the idea man,” said retired Longboat Observer Senior Editor Dora Walters. “It was Claire

who saw that his ideas materialized and deadlines were met (and) kept him down to earth at times.”

Claire Hunter died Sunday, File photo Dec. 15, at home in Bradenton.

Claire and Ralph Hunter at the old Tiny’s She was 84. of Longboat Key. The Hunters were marSEE HUNTER / 12A ried for 35 years.

REBEL WITH A CLAUS

+ Commission savors the sunshine The weather on Longboat Key was cloudy on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 11, but the Longboat Key Town Commission stayed in the sunshine, as far as the Longboat Observer could tell.

Earlier that day, town staff was prepping for a marathon workshop. With an agenda that included hot-button issues such as the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, they anticipated the meeting would stretch into the evening and require a dinner break.

But, with recent allegations of Sunshine Law violations reported in the Longboat Observer relating to changes to the Urban Land Institute committee, Town Manager Dave Bullock invited the press to feast on Publix subs alongside the commission to confirm commissioners were staying in the sunshine.

One topic of conversation throughout the meal: the weather.

Kelsey Grau

Carol Kagi rides her decorated bike as part of the Longbeach Village parade Saturday, Dec. 14. The procession ended at Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant with refreshments and an ugly Christmas sweater contest. For more photos from the parade, see page 15A.

COLLAPSE ZONE

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Colony receives four-month extension

Commissioners extended the deadline for the property’s grandfathered status but will hold a public hearing to determine whether the town should take action to demolish the Colony’s buildings.

Longtime Colony Beach & Tennis Resort General Manager Katie Klauber Moulton kept lowering her head and shaking it in disgust.

Longtime Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber sighed and turned away from the screen on more than one occasion.

And Longboat Key commis-

sioners stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding in front of them.

That scene was a series of photographs of Colony buildings displayed Dec. 11, in dimmed Town Hall chambers, during a special meeting. They showed rotting wood, concrete deterioration beyond the point of repair and

buildings showing signs of collapsing.

The photographs were part of a 67-page report from Building Official Wayne Thorne and a recommendation from Town Manager Dave Bullock, who requested that existing units at the Colony be torn down.

The commission hasn’t seen the last of these images.

Commissioners approved a four-month extension of the grandfathered tourism units at the shuttered resort Dec. 11, making the latest tourism extension

SEE COLONY / 2A

INDEX Briefs....................3A Classifieds......... 25A

Cops Corner....... 13A Crossword.......... 24A

Neighborhood.... 14A Opinion.................8A

Real Estate........ 22A Weather............. 24A

Vol. 36, No. 20 | Two sections YourObserver.com

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deadline April 30.

The commission learned Wednesday that it couldn’t legally make a teardown the condition of a tourism unit extension, as Bullock proposed.

Instead, commissioners will begin reviewing each building and determining whether it constitutes a nuisance property by codes. The process involves inviting unit owners and every interested Colony party to a 9 a.m. March 4 hearing that will also be open to the public. At that time, the commission will review a building-by-building summary of the property to determine whether each structure meets the criteria for nuisance and dangerous buildings and whether it needs to be torn down.

At the Dec. 11 meeting, Bullock called the buildings nuisances and threats to the health and safety of the general public during a storm.

“We have to think about town citizens who live nearby as a result of the decision by the collective Colony to let these buildings to continue to conduct a small implosion,” Bullock said. “It’s my opinion I will be here this time next year having this same discussion with the difference being the buildings will be in a state of further deteriorated condition.”

Because the Colony’s 237 units were built on 18 acres before the town created its tourism resort commercial classification that allows for just six units per acre, 129 of the resort’s 237 units are considered grandfathered, or legally non-conforming.

The town would have deemed the property’s tourism use abandoned Aug. 15, 2011 — one year after the resort closed — if the commission hadn’t granted a series of extensions.

Thorne said there are 782 items that “meet the conditions of being dangerous structures” and 177 “serious issues” that need to be addressed. He said the buildings are “falling down on themselves.”

Bullock noted that Colony Beach & Tennis Association attorney Jeffrey Warren said

at a recent bankruptcy hearing that the buildings will be torn down eventually.

“I’m trying to find a logical way to deal with a multitude of issues this collapsing development gives us,” Bullock said. “It’s a way to accomplish an improvement in the community.”

The commission also mandated the association increase a bond the town can use to make improvements to the property from $50,000 to $250,000 despite objections from Warren.

“If history is any indication, we will live on the edge of drawing the bond,” said Bullock, explaining the association still hasn’t corrected a fire-alarm issue in the mid-rise building at the town’s request. “I have no confidence things will get done unless we have resources to draw upon.”

Commissioners and Bullock had a tense discussion with Warren about the state of the property and how long it was going to take to raze the buildings and jumpstart the property that once was labeled “the jewel of the island” by Klauber and other residents in the past.

“You took me from being incredibly sad watching the deterioration of people’s property and improvement to being incredibly mad,” Commissioner Terry Gans said. “You still don’t have a developer and we want someone that enhances the future of this town. Stop insulting us.”

Warren said U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May will rule Jan. 27 on a proposed Colony settlement and urged commissioners to be patient.

Even Klauber asked commissioners to be patient, explaining he “finally sees a light at the end of this horrible nightmare.”

“Please don’t take immediate action to remove the current density,” said Klauber, who said he is working with a developer who will create “a fabulous new Colony.”

Mayor Jim Brown said the town is sick of waiting, though, and urged parties to take action.

“Everyone’s been fumbling around with this extremely valuable asset that’s now harming our community instead of helping it,” Brown said.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

P&Z recommends Hilton approval The Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort submitted plans for a $30 million project that could break ground in May.

Courtesy rendering

The Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort unveiled renderings for a new $30 million renovation-and-expansion project Tuesday.

“We’re ready to go, and we’re ready to start construction.”

Ocean Properties Ltd. Vice President Andy Berger made that statement to the nine-person Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board more than once at itsTuesday meeting, in hopes the board would approve a site-plan amendment for the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort. That site plan asks for 85 units of the town’s 250 tourism unit pool as part of a $30 million renovation-and-expansion project.

The P&Z board unanimously passed the site-plan amendment Tuesday, citing a strong need for the redeveloped hotel and the addition of hotel units that were lost 13 years ago when the Longboat Key Holiday Inn closed its doors.

“When you think about it, we lost 142 hotel rooms in this same general area when the Holiday Inn closed,” said Senior Planner Steve Schield, who told the board that PZ&B staff recommended approval of the site plan. “We are kind of putting many of those units back in the same location where we lost them.”

P&Z board members overwhelmingly approved the project as a whole and recommended it to the commission, with one condition.

Concerned the project doesn’t include a southbound deceleration lane for motorists who are turning into the hotel, board members included a condition that asks the applicant to work with Florida Department of Transportation officials to get a lane approved.

Disagreeing with traffic count numbers from a Hilton traffic consultant, the P&Z Board believes the lane would help ease

congestion during season from visitors entering the hotel.

“General traffic counts don’t apply on Longboat Key,” said board member George Symanski Jr. “There are a lot of visitors here who slow down and don’t know where they are. Anytime you can take turning movements and move them over, it’s gong to help traffic flow.”

Hilton attorney John Patterson announced the applicant would agree to the condition and would do its best to build the lane, if the state approves it, before the hotel project is complete.

Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd., owner of the Hilton, the Resort at Longboat Key Club, Lido Beach Resort and Holiday Inn Lido Beach, submitted a site-plan application in September for its long-anticipated project.

If approved, the Hilton will become the first applicant to take advantage of the townwide 250 tourism unit pool.

The site-plan application submitted Sept. 4 calls for redeveloping existing Hilton buildings and the 102 rooms that currently sit on the site, while adding units in a new tower on the property.

As part of the project, the existing tower will be gutted and remodeled, the pool area will be completely redone, and everything to the south of the existing tower will change. The property will get a new lobby building, a new restaurant/meeting space building and the new hotel tower, where all 85 rooms will have views of the Gulf.

The application states: “The Longboat Key hotel must be completely redeveloped and modernized to attract the affluent, upscale visitors that historically supported the local economy

ROOKS’S RESTAURANT RECEIVES OUTDOOR DINING SEATS

NEWSBRIEFS + Police pension plan set to freeze in January At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Dec. 11 regular workshop and special meeting, the commission approved on first reading an ordinance that freezes the Longboat Key police pension plan.

The town will form a new police pension board to oversee the pension plan and benefits for officers in the future.

“This is the last of the frozen pension plans,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock.

When an ordinance is adopted in January, after the town receives actuarial impact statements that show how much unfunded liability the town’s taxpayers must pay off, the plan will be frozen.

The commission approved a three-year contract with the Longboat Key Police Union in November; the move marked the end of pensions for new hires townwide.

The former Mattison’s Steakhouse at the Plaza restaurant that’s been closed since 2008 will soon transform into a new restaurant.

The Planning and Zoning Board approved a special exception at its Tuesday meeting that grants building owner W. Howard Rooks 50 outdoor dining seats in the southwest corner of the building. A brick pathway from the redeveloped Longboat Key Publix is being built for patrons to gain access from the Publix parking spaces being paved near the property.

The restaurant building, located at 555 Bay Isles Parkway, also has 210 indoor seats.

Rooks said he intends to open the restaurant in February or March with a partner, whose name he can’t disclose at this time. The unnamed partner will serve as the restaurant’s chef and general manager.

The board approved the special exception by a 9-0 vote.

+ Town keeps watch for red drift algae due to summer rain

of Longboat Key.” Pending the Longboat Key Town Commission’s approval in January, the project could break ground in May. “We are very excited about this project,” Berger said. “We love Longboat Key, and our project estimate for this project now sits at $30 million. When you spend that type of money, you are going to get a first-class resort.”

Board members congratulated Hilton owners for coming forward with a project that complies with town codes and doesn’t ask for any departures.

“This will give us a facility that’s desperately needed, and it’s been submitted and designed as well as it can possibly de done,” said board Chairwoman B.J. Bishop.

The commission approved an ordinance that modifies the outline development process (ODP) that distributes the pool of 250 tourism units earlier this year. And in May, P&Z Board members reviewed code and Comprehensive Plan changes that allowed the Hilton to seek a fifth floor and an additional 15 feet in height as part of its project through the site-plan process.

The change allows the Hilton and other T-6 zoning (six tourism units per acre) properties to request to redevelop through the site-plan process.

“We were ready to go a year ago, but issues arose,” Berger said. “Now we’re ready to get to work to bring you something Longboat Key will be proud to have in its community.”

Town Manager Dave Bullock informed commissioners in a Dec. 12 email that town staff would keep an eye out for red drift algae problems in 2014.

In 2006 and 2007, mounds of the smelly seaweed — which isn’t red tide and isn’t harmful to one’s health — came to shore along the Gulf Coast, including Longboat Key. Officials warn that the seaweed could return for the first time in six years because of heavy rain this summer.

In the event of red tide or fish kills, the town will rake seaweed from its beach. But the town doesn’t pick up regular seaweed that comes ashore — no matter how much of it plops onto the sand — because of the cost.

In the past, though, the town has contacted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to inquire about businesses and residents obtaining permits to rake the beach.

+ Christmas holiday changes Due to the Christmas holiday, yard-waste collections are changing from Wednesday, Dec. 25 to Thursday, Dec. 26. Solid waste will also be picked up Dec. 26. Have all items curbside by 7 a.m.

Town Hall and its various departments will also be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 for the holiday and will reopen Dec. 26.

MEETINGS AGENDAS

&

 Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6.  Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.

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by Robin Hartill | News Editor

Top ULI tasks: Town center, Bayfront Park A new committee will make a town center concept and Bayfront Park its top priorities in the immediate future.

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Let’s get to work.

That was the message Town Manager Dave Bullock had for the Urban Land Institute Implementation Advisory Committee after the group discussed its own makeup Tuesday, Dec. 10.

“I wouldn’t spend any time on this, guys,” he said. “Here’s the advice: Get to work.”

The committee got to work and concluded that its top priorities will be to determine how to proceed with a proposed town center, along with Bayfront Park’s future.

Acting Planning Zoning & Building Director Alaina Ray provided committee members with an overview of what town staff has done since a ULI panel made its preliminary recommendations for the town at the end of October.

Town and Sarasota County officials have met to discuss possibilities for Bayfront Park to determine the roles that the town and county could play in its development, funding options and whether they would need an interlocal agreement.

Town staff is also holding discussions with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials to determine what the agency would allow on the FDOTcontrolled Gulf of Mexico Drive to improve mobility.

Staffers have also met with property owners on Bay Isles Road to discuss possibilities for a town center and hired Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt, who designed the new Longboat Key Publix, to create two sets of renderings for a town center.

But throughout the meeting, some com-

mittee members struggled with an existential question: Why does the committee exist?

“We are struggling with our role,” said Commissioner Jack Duncan, who is on the new nine-member committee after the commission made changes to the committee’s makeup last week. “We’re trying to figure out what this committee is going to do.”

Ray told the group that it was meant to serve as an ideas committee, while town staff will work to determine what can be done.

The committee also wrestled with how to prioritize recommendations, discussing whether the town should first implement one of the simpler recommendations, such as beautification, as a “quick fix,” as several committee members described it, to show the community it was making progress.

But committee member David Novak urged other members to get to the “meat of the matter.”

“The public would have the perception that we picked something easy and for the purposes of PR,” he said of a “quick fix.”

The committee reached consensus, instead, to make establishing a town center its top priority.

Members agreed to discuss with members of the community the features and activities they’d like to see at a proposed cultural/community center in the town center and were scheduled to report their findings at their Dec. 17 meeting.

The committee will also discuss beautification of the entryways to the island.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

silent backer

5A

by David Conway | News Editor

Roundabouts receive support from advocate Although he’s reluctant to step into the spotlight, Lido Key resident Ernie Kretzmer has agreed to help fund the city’s construction of a downtown roundabout.

David Conway

Ernie Kretzmer has supported the construction of new roundabouts in Sarasota for a decade. His background as an engineer and desire to improve the city’s traffic flow has contributed to his dedication to the cause.

have, jumping from one red light to the other.”

Around the same time, a proposal to install a series of roundabouts along U.S. 41 was in its nascent stages. Kretzmer heard pitches from consultants from towns that had installed roundabouts and from the city’s most prominent roundabout advocate, Rod Warner. Kretzmer was one of the first to support Warner’s efforts.

“He was prized by me early on, because early on there weren’t very many people speaking up and coming around to the idea

and concept,” Warner said. “He holds a very warm and treasured space in my roundabout heart for having done that.”

Although he was in favor of the proposal, Kretzmer was far from front and center in the debate surrounding the installation of new roundabouts in Sarasota.

His support manifested itself in the form of attending meetings and penning letters to the editor; Kretzmer says he’s got a thick stack of written arguments in favor of the roundabouts from the past 10 years.

“He’s kind of been in the background, but a really avid supporter all along,” Warner said.

That all changed, Kretzmer said, partially because he was dissatisfied with his own commute.

Driving along Ringling Boulevard to the Babe Weiller Branch of the YMCA, he was frustrated with the traffic.

“That one light at the intersection of Ringling and Orange, in particular, had very poor traffic flow,” Kretzmer said. “I wanted to do something, and I thought, ‘This would be an opportunity to move the process forward faster.’”

That intersection happened to be targeted by the city for a future roundabout, but Florida Department of Transportation funding for the project was expected to come in no earlier than 2015-16.

With Kretzmer’s donation, the roundabout’s design timeline was moved up to next year, with

construction money slated to be available in 2016-17.

Although the roundabout is still a few years away, City Engineer Alex DavisShaw said the project was “put on the map”

by Kretzmer’s contribution. Before the donation was made, any timeline was purely theoretical; DavisShaw said Kretzmer moved the completion date of the roundabout up five or six years.

“Basically, it took us from being a project in concept — it took an intersection that is not very pedestrian-friendly and could be improved for pedestrians and drivers — to being a planned project,” DavisShaw said.

Kretzmer’s support for roundabouts goes beyond just improving his own commute. Before retiring to Sarasota in the early ’80s, Kretzmer was an electric engineer for Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He said he still brings that analytical perspective to his dayto-day life, and that roundabouts were particularly appealing to him as a result.

“I see things in a practical, results-oriented way,” Kretzmer said. “I just see these roundabouts as one way of improving living conditions.”

He’s also appreciative of the roundabouts on an aesthetic level. Kretzmer is passionate about the arts, with ornate paintings lining the walls and classical music playing through the halls of his home. Before making the do-

The city of Sarasota isn’t the only benefactor of Ernie Kretzmer’s philanthropy. Here are just a few of the organizations — many of which are arts-centric — that Kretzmer supported in 2013.

• Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra • Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota • Classical WSMR Member Services • Florida Studio Theatre • Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee • The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee • Jewish Housing Council Foundation • Perlman Music Program — Suncoast • Salvation Army — Sarasota • Sarasota Ballet of Florida • Sarasota Orchestra • Van Wezel Foundation • YMCA Foundation of Sarasota nation to the city, Kretzmer said much of his philanthropic efforts had gone to arts organizations. In a way, the roundabouts appeal to that side of him, too.

“I believe it’s for everyone’s welfare.” Kretzmer said.

Ultimately, that last point is what motivated Kretzmer to make his donation.

“I like to do good things,” he said.

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Before offering to make a roughly $200,000 donation to the city of Sarasota, Ernie Kretzmer’s advocacy for roundabouts in Sarasota was largely limited to writing letters to the editor.

Even after ramping up his dedication to the cause by committing his own money to help fund a roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Orange Avenue, Kretzmer shied away from taking a vocal role regarding the city’s plans for new roundabouts along U.S. 41 and throughout downtown.

Kretzmer did receive acknowledgement of his donation — the details of which are still being finalized — at an October City Commission meeting. However, the kudos came only after a citizen alerted the commission that Kretzmer was in attendance. For the 88-year-old Lido Key resident, that’s OK with him.

“I’ve always kind of been a silent proponent,” Kretzmer said.

“I’m not a high-profile person — I don’t want to be.”

Kretzmer’s passion for roundabouts began a decade ago, following the completion of the John Ringling Causeway. Kretzmer was in favor of building the bridge, but its construction created a new challenge.

“I was a strong proponent of the beautiful bridge we have now,” Kretzmer said. “After that was finished, then I was disturbed about the choppy traffic flow that we

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Town dredges up canal project

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Canal dredging isn’t in the near future, but commissioners want to set aside funds for the project that will cost millions.

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The good news: A town staff-conducted survey reveals the majority of the town’s canals are still deep enough for boat traffic and don’t need dredging.

The bad news: The canals won’t stay clear of sediment forever, and the town needs to start putting more money aside for a future dredging project that will cost millions of dollars.

The Longboat Key Town Commission reviewed a report from Public Works Director Juan Florensa at its Dec. 11 regular workshop about the state of the island’s canals.

The town last performed a major canaldredging project in 2003, when it dredged 53 canals at a cost of $2,400,375. That project was the product of several years of work from a canal maintenance financing advisory committee and residents who deemed it necessary to dredge the canals in the 1990s.

Florensa reported that his staff used the town’s police boat to survey almost every inch of the town’s canals at 200-foot intervals.

“Our canals aren’t that big of an issue yet,” said Florensa, noting there are a few areas of concern, but none that prompt him to recommend a dredging project at this point.

“Residents are also not calling to complain about canals being too shallow like they were in 2003,” Florensa said.

Florensa suggested the town obtain public input on canal dredging funding.

After the town’s 2003 canal dredging project, the commission set aside $100,000 annually for canal dredging. But the annual funding stopped in 2008, when the town began reallocating money due to

Kurt Schultheis

A town-conducted survey of the Key’s 53 canals revealed that the majority of the waterways are still deep enough for boats.

plummeting property-tax revenues.

The town currently has $400,000, plus $90,000 in infrastructure surtax dollars, set aside for canal dredging purposes.

“The bottom line is you don’t face anything now like you did in 2003,” Bullock said. “You have some spots that need touched up, but your best indicator for problems will be heard from boaters, and they don’t have any issues right now.”

The commission, though, agreed to come up with a game plan for canal dredging when the time comes.

Bullock said the town will keep the $400,000 “protected” and discuss other ways to “build up that account for our next canal dredging project” in the future.

The commission agreed to revisit the canal dredging issue in budget discussions next year.

“We can discuss it in the future and dredge it all up again,” said Commissioner Jack Duncan.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Observer opinion | our view LONGBOAT

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Editor / CEO / Matt Walsh mwalsh@yourobserver.com Publisher / Lisa Walsh lwalsh@yourobserver.com Chief Digital Officer / Emily Walsh ewalsh@yourobserver.com Executive Editor / Kat Hughes khughes@yourobserver.com Deputy Executive Editor / Jessica Luck jluck@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Kurt Schultheis kschultheis@yourobserver.com News Editor / Robin Hartill rhartill@yourobserver.com Community Editor / Kelsey Grau kgrau@yourobserver.com Managing Editor/Design / Nancy Schwartz nschwartz@yourobserver.com Managing Editor/Diversions-Season / Stephanie Hannum, stephanie@yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Mallory Gnaegy mgnaegy@yourobserver.com Black Tie Assistant Editor / Heather Merriman hmerriman@yourobserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh jraleigh@yourobserver.com East County Advertising Manager / Lori Ruth lruth@yourobserver.com Sales Manager / Penny DiGregorio pdigregorio@yourobserver.com Sales Manager / Rosemary Felton rfelton@yourobserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter lritter@yourobserver.com Advertising Executives / Robyn Didelot, rdidelot@yourobserver.com Patti Duff, pduff@yourobserver.com Laura Fernandez, lfernandez@yourobserver.com Beth Holman, bholman@yourobserver.com Beth Jacobson, bjacobson@yourobserver.com Robert Lewis, blewis@yourobserver.com Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com Brand Marketing Manager / Leslie Gnaegy lgnaegy@yourobserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Managers / Lori Downey, ldowney@yourobserver.com Susan Leedom, sleedom@yourobserver.com Rachel Livingston, rlivingston@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executives/ Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Deedie Parker, dparker@yourobserver.com Director of Creative Services and Information Technology / Kathy Payne, kpayne@yourobserver.com Assistant Creative Services Manager / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver.com Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@yourobserver.com Jim Knake, jknake@yourobserver.com Chris Stolz, cstolz@yourobserver.com Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com Director of Digital Sales / Kathleen O’Hara kohara@yourobserver.com Interactive Art Director / Caleb Stanton cstanton@yourobserver.com Digital Marketing Consultant / Brandon Steinert bsteinert@digitalobservermedia.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Jordon Stone jstone@digitalobservermedia.com Digital Content Producer / Alex Mahadevan alexm@yourobserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Keisacker lkeisacker@yourobserver.com Controller / Lisa Schwenk lschwenk@yourobserver.com Office Coordinator / Donna Condon dcondon@yourobserver.com

Dredging Big Pass If you put yourself in their shoes, you can understand their angst and what we’ll call their “Sarasota NIMBYism.”

These are the property owners on Lido Key, whose beaches have become critically eroded, and the property owners near Big Pass on Siesta Key, who are fighting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging Big Pass to renourish Lido Key. Both constituents fear the consequences to their properties. If Lido Key beach isn’t maintained and continues to erode, we know the obvious eventual calamity. But if New Pass is dredged, some Siesta Key residents fear, that loss of sand could damage their properties and their famed Siesta Key beach.

Everyone has selfish interests at stake.

And so the NIMBYism has begun. Classic neighborhood behavior on the west coast of Florida. Sometimes it seems residents here must have invented the acronym.

But here are the unavoidables: 1) Maintaining the beaches, and 2) Dredging. They are facts of life here and must be done.

The challenge is making the best choices for both.

Beach maintenance is an unavoidable reality on the Gulf Coast on two levels. One is to protect individuals’ property. Another level is to protect the economic value of the beaches for the greater community. They and the Gulf provide economic sustenance here. Without them, we’d be little more than a Yeehaw Junction.

Surely everyone who lives on or near the beaches knows this. And to fight it is delusional. This is part of the price to pay to live here.

Once you get beyond that, the next two choices are tougher: how best to maintain the beaches; and how much to spend to maintain them.

Take the first — how best to maintain them. For decades, dredging sand from nearby sources in the Gulf of Mexico has been the accepted and most economical method. And it still is.

To that end, taxpayers spend millions of dollars on Army Corps engineers and private-sector experts searching for the most economical and compatible sources of sand. Taxpayers place their faith and trust in these experts to determine the future consequences of their choices.

And likewise, it’s incumbent on these experts to make convincing cases to taxpayers and property owners for their choices.

Indeed, that process is underway now. As Milan Mora, Army Corps project manager, told Siesta Key residents recently: “It’s not a plan set in stone.” State officials still need to sign off on it.

The process is working as it should. And all of this — the fact Lido Key beach must be maintained; the fact sand must be dredged; and the fact the approval process is working — should not have to make the Lido Key residents feel compelled to mount a PR campaign in support of the Big Pass dredging and battle the NIMBYs. To be sure, all affected residents — on Siesta Key and Lido Key — would be wise to stay engaged in the process and help the Corps make the best choices.

Meanwhile, those residents fighting the

TRUE PARTNERS ALL THE WAY This photograph, taken by none other than longtime Longboat Observer senior editor Dora Walters, captures perfectly Ralph and Claire Hunter.

It shows the love and joy they found and held in each other, and not far behind was another love and joy of their lives, the Longboat Observer.

Claire Hunter died peacefully Sunday night in the Hunters’ Bradenton home.

It’s getting tough, losing these Longboat legends.

We would put Claire Hunter in that category — among Longboat legends — as one of the co-founders of the Longboat Observer. As a partner in every way and everything with her husband, Claire Hunter was the even-keeled, detail-oriented foil to Ralph’s vision, entrepreneurism and hearty laugh. After he dreamed, she executed the dream. Dora Walters remembered Claire Hunter as a precise copy editor, one of those now-rare editors who cared deeply about punctuation,

Big Pass dredging might keep these points in mind as well: All of our beaches — from Anna Maria Island to Manasota Key — are linked in this coastal chain. One always affects the other; they cannot be maintained in isolation.

Likewise, those who object to the dredging of Big Pass should see that by choosing to own property near the beach and near the pass, they must accept certain consequences. One of them is this: As long as millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars subsidize the maintenance of the beaches and thus the protection of their private properties, they have forfeited complete control of their destiny. Life is all about choices and their consequences.

+ St. Armands Circle Park

What a fiasco. And it’s complicated.

St. Armands Circle Park is a great venue for events. Tourists and shoppers always swarm the famed retail center, so it makes for a great place to showcase goods and

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spelling, verb tense and subject-adjective agreement. She was that way with everything.

Claire Hunter had her own clever wit, and loved to giggle about the many “only-on-Longboat” stories that they printed in the paper during their 17-year tenure as the paper’s owners.

When they finally agreed to sell their “baby” in 1995, negotiations on the telephone often consisted of talking over a point with Ralph, who would then hand the phone to Claire, to have the same point repeated to her. They made every decision together.

And the more you knew Ralph and Claire, the more you could see how close they were — joined happily together as they were in that photograph on March 27, 1995.

True partners all the way — in love with each other … and in love with Longboat Key. — MW

wares.

At the same time, the St. Armands Circle merchants are wary of what goes on in the park. Rightfully, they guard their image and reputation closely.

Then there are the neighbors. They hate it when big events overwhelm their streets with cars and people.

It’s always a tug and pull.

On top of this, the city’s rules for St. Armands Park (and other city parks) are a bureaucratic fiasco. It’s ridiculous what the city requires to obtain a permit for an event.

Predictably, there’s squabbling, fighting, accusations of favoritism, special deals and the usual ugliness that occurs whenever government intervenes.

Here’s a fix: If the merchants and residents are so particular about what happens in the park, they should buy it or lease it from the city. Turn its operation over to the privatesector. We guarantee that would end any shenanigans and improve the park.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR + The demise of PIC

Dear Editor: The Longboat Observer repeatedly sheds crocodile tears over the demise of the Longboat Key Public Interest Committee, after decades of first being a resident-oriented foil to developers, to ending up in its final years as an organ for various commercial interests on the island, and at the end a straight-out political committee in disguise, which failed to register as a political committee and published a political advertisement that did not comply with statutory disclaimer requirements.

Sadly, the board of PIC had to sign a consent decree admitting to operating illegally as a political committee and placing illegal ads supporting certain local candidates for the Town Commission.

The Observer lauded the PIC board for donating the remaining money in the organization’s bank account to the local library, amid much breast-beating and bows for their altruism.

However, there are a couple of questions that need to be addressed before we all kiss PIC a sad adieu.

I have a letter in writing from a dues-paying PIC member stating that he was not informed, at the time he paid his dues to PIC, that his money would be used for purposes of buying expensive political ads supporting certain candidates this member did not support.

Both the state and the PIC board members who signed the above consent decree stated that the political ads were in violation of state laws and that PIC had operated as an unauthorized political committee.

This raises questions of what monies were used to purchase the ads.

If member dues were involved, and the members (at least one) thought their money would be used for other purposes, how can the PIC board respond to this question; and they do need to respond. Their reputations rest on their answers. If on the other hand, the

political ads were purchased with private funds, and the ads published under the supposed auspices of PIC, then other questions are raised concerning misrepresentation in an election, where one candidate lost by fewer than 27 votes. So, we are faced with the possible question: Since culpability has been established by the state, were the funds raised under false pretenses or spent for unintended purposes, as far as the dues-paying members were concerned, or is there some other explanation? At least one dues-paying PIC member would like to know.

The consent decree sites a $600 fine for election ad violations and activities. The decree is signed by counsel for the defendants. What monies were used to cover legal expenses?

There is no doubt that certain members of the PIC organization played a role in the town election process, possibly causing one candidate to lose by using what had been the trusted PIC name to make negative statements about that candidate. I wonder how those unaware residents, who read the PIC political ads and cast their votes accordingly, must feel after discovering that what they thought was trusted advice from PIC was nothing more than the political agenda of a

few residents. The PIC duespaying members were never polled about their political views.

The Observer would serve the community well by publishing complete and factual information instead of shameless propaganda and revisionist history.

PIC met an ignominious end at the hands of a few residents who did not mind deceiving their fellow islanders and voters about their true political agenda and hiding behind the PIC name. Shame has been brought on what had once been a venerable community organization.

Gene Jaleski Longboat Key Editor’s note: Former Public Interest Committee copresidents Ann Roth and Gaele Barthold declined to respond to this letter.

+ There should be rules when creating committees

Dear Editor: I hope that the Urban Land Institute Implementation Advisory Committee as currently comprised comes forward with positive recommendations for the future of Longboat Key. I have not worked with any of the current members during my 15-year ownership on the island, but I am sure they will

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do their best. I do have some recommendations for establishing working committees in the future: 1. The working committee should have specific objectives, a timetable for deliverables and a budget to work with.

2. The committee should be gender diversified. Women have a very different perspective than men do, possibly based upon societal reasons that will decrease over time, especially regarding quality-of-life issues.

3. The committee should include full-time, mostly fulltime (commuter-type) and part-time residents. These three groups will likely have a diverse view on how Longboat Key should handle tourism, traffic, commercial activity and home marketability.

4. At least one member of the committee should be an active real estate agent who can provide some insight into the impact of recommendations upon market values.

5. At least one member of the committee should be a member of the Planning and Zoning Board, who can provide insight into the practical impact of recommendations upon political reality.

6. No commissioner should be a member of the committee.

Ron Mario Longboat Key

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

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The scene is an odd one at Grace United Methodist Preschool. A miniature Albert Einstein trots down the hall in mismatched shoes to retrieve the fuzzy white adhesive eyebrow that has fallen off in the excitement.

Amelia Earhart casually follows close behind, model airplane in tow. These pint-sized historical figures are actually students in Suzi Lynch’s fourthgrade class at Laurel Nokomis School.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

HUNTER / FROM PAGE 1A

Oct. 13, 1978, and married Nov. 1, 1978. They honeymooned at Longboat Key Town Hall, where Born July 15, 1929, in Chicago, they covered a commission she graduated with a degree in meeting that night. sociology from Wellesley College Claire officially joined Ralph in 1951. on the Longboat Observer staff in She worked for United Airlines, January 1979 — bringing the pain Denver, and then for a radio per’s total number of employees station and newspaper. to two; Janet had found another She moved in 1960 job during the hiatus, to Florida and became although she continued the executive director of to help out and later reDeSoto Celebration. turned as advertising The Hunters hadn’t manager. married yet when Ralph, Janet described Claire with help from his daughas the “shot in the arm” ter, Janet, founded the needed to move the paLongboat Observer 35 per forward at the time. years ago, mostly out of Hunter In the 1980s, the paper boredom. and its staff grew, espeThe first four-page issue ap- cially as real estate sales — and peared in print July 28, 1978, and advertising — grew, fueled by the Claire watched the new publica- construction of new condominition take shape from afar at her ums. job with DeSoto Celebration.

Observer Media Group MulTwenty years later, she admit- timedia Advertising Consultant ted, “I really thought he was off of Bob Lewis, who joined the Longhis tree.” boat Observer staff as producRalph printed seven issues of tion manager in 1991, described the Longboat Observer but wasn’t Claire as the “mother” to the prepared for the September dol- Longboat Observer. drums. He stopped publishing, “Claire spent a week with me and he and Claire decided to explaining what she expected, marry. and I did my best to not disapThe couple restarted the paper point her,” Lewis said.

Claire and Ralph Hunter, fifth and sixth from left, with staff during the early years of the Longboat Observer. per with staff story by story each Wednesday at a round table. They made big decisions by taking a walk together on the beach.

The Hunters sold the publication to current owners Matt and Lisa Walsh and Lisa’s parents, David and Ruth Beliles, in 1995.

In retirement, both Hunters participated in the Longboat Key Historical Society, Longboat Key Garden Club, Longboat Key Republican Club and Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian.

The couple also collaborated on the book “From Calusas to Condominiums: a Pictorial His-

After two weeks, Ralph told Lewis he’d passed the toughest test: Claire was happy.

Retired senior advertising executive Wendi Simons described the close relationship between the Hunters and their staff.

When Simons took time off to care for her ailing mother, she told Claire she would consider it her vacation time. Claire wouldn’t hear of it, insisting Simons also take a vacation.

“If you worked for them, you were family,” she said.

They functioned as a team, reviewing each week’s newspa-

tory of Longboat Key,” published in 2002.

“Ralph did the research for that book and wrote it all down, but she’s the one who put that book together,” said friend Evey Huntington.

The couple moved in 2010 to Bradenton but continued to drive to the Key for Sunday services at Christ Church and Wednesday bridge games until Claire became ill last year.

Even in their later years at the bridge table, the Hunters remained a team.

“She and Ralph were hard to beat,” said friend Carolyn Pol. “She and Ralph worked well together.”

Hunter is survived by her husband, Ralph, of Bradenton; stepdaughter, Janet, of Sarasota; stepson, Bruce, of Salt Lake City; brother, Kenneth Anderson, of Indiana; and two nephews.

A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Christ Church or Tidewell Hospice of Manatee County, 3355 26th St. W., Bradenton, Fla., 34205.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

by Kelsey Grau | Community Editor

HOLIDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

Christ Church shows reason for the season Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian hosted young children and their families at its annual All Church Carol Sing and Children’s Christmas Party Thursday, Dec. 12. One of the church’s

mission projects takes members of the congregation to Bradenton as reading buddies, and this event allowed everyone involved to celebrate with a party full of singing, presents and Santa.

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road.

A Christmas Eve musical prelude is at 5 p.m., and the Christ Mass follows at 5:30 p.m. Sunday Holy Eucharist is at 8 and 10 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist and healing prayers are at 10 a.m. The Rev. David Danner is the rector. 3838161.

Photos by Kelsey Grau

Vivian Chester and Johanna Gomez

Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. A Christmas Eve service is at 7 p.m. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m.

The Rev. Bruce Porter is the pastor. 383-8833.

Kiara Johnson laughs with Mrs. Claus.

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive.

Christmas Eve candlelighting services are at 5, 7

Back: Keith Tschannen and Jane Webb; front: Jaylen Peterson, Rokland Lodge, Craivontae Koonce and Michael Williams

127617

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive. A Christmas Eve Mass is at 4 and 9 p.m.

Christmas Day Masses are at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses are at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.; daily Masses are at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday; and Saturday Masses are at 5 p.m. Msgr. Gerard Finegan is the pastor. 383-1255.

Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, holds Shabbat services at 8 p.m. Fridays, 5:30 p.m. on the last Friday of the month and 10 a.m. Saturdays.

Jonathan Katz is the rabbi. Call 383-3428.

Oquicha and Cassan Mattox

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Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. A Christmas Eve service is at 4 p.m. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m. The Rev. Vincent Carroll is pastor. 383-6491.

and 10 p.m.

Contemporary Sunday worship services are at 9 a.m., and traditional worship services are at 11 a.m. The Rev. Mark Bernthal is the pastor.

388-1234.

by the

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Christmas Eve Service 4 p.m.

Refreshments served after the service in the garden.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

SURE SHOTS

REAL ESTATE

WEATHER The Christmas spirit shines brightly at sunset.

Observer Challenge competitors meet for final matches.

PAGE 16A

Longboat Shores home sells for $3.35 million.

PAGE 22A

LIGHT UP THE KEYS

PAGE 24A

by Kelsey Grau | Community Editor

 Publisher’s Choice Carman home, 6901 Poinsetta Ave. With its classic red bows, white lights and giant poinsettias, the Carmans’ home looks like it’s straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The whole family joins in on the decorating each season, but Judy Carman believes they receieve a little help from someone else, too.

“It’s really Mother Nature that does the work,” she laughed.

About six years ago, Judy began planting poinsettias outside the couple’s Longbeach home. Today, some of those 60 plants are nearly 8 feet tall. It’s a home worthy of its street name: Poinsetta Avenue.

SHIN ING You light up our lives throughout the year, and during the holiday season, you also light up the Key with your holiday decorations.

Longboat Key doesn’t need snow flurries and icy temperatures to make it feel like Christmastime. Instead, we escape the cold and decorate in style — with thousands of colorful lights.

This year, the Longboat Observer searched up and down the Key for vibrant displays of holiday spirit in four categories: publisher’s choice, single-family home, condominium and commercial.

Here are our picks for the best and brightest.

The 2013 Light up the Keys contest winners:

EXAMPLES

 Commercial Café L’Europe, 431 St. Armands Circle Although St. Armands Circle is home to the largest Christmas tree on the Key and more than a few displays of lights, the classic holiday decorations at Café L’Europe caught the Longboat Observer’s eye.

With a mix of Christmas colors and candy canes, the restaurant provides a festive ambience for customers and passersby alike.

 Condominium Spanish Main Yacht Club, 5700 Gulf of Mexico Drive An especially merry group of residents from Spanish Main worked together to create a new display of lights at the community’s entrance. With the collaborative effort of Mike and Lynn DeMusis, Charlie and Linda Czech, Rich and Pat Knudson, Craig Gesaman and Armando Nino, the bright lights are front and center for drivers to admire as they cruise down Gulf of Mexico Drive. The twinkling palm trees and Santa’s sleigh and reindeer call to mind a tropical Christmas season.

Linda Czech, Craig Gesaman , Mike DeMus DeMusis and Armando Nin is, Lynn o

Single-Family Home

 Lachmann Home, 681 Emerald Harbor Drive Every year, Bob and Margaret Lachmann team up to make their Emerald Harbor home a winter wonderland — inside and out.

While Bob hangs strands upon strands of lights outside, Margaret works inside to create an environment sure to bring Christmas cheer to even the toughest Grinch. New to the display this year are LED lights, which are much brighter than your average twinkle lights and make the home outshine the competition. n Bob Lachman

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

MERRY MEETUPS

15A

by Kelsey Grau | Community Editor

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Village partakes in holiday fun

Chris Tatreau and Shirley Myers ride in their golf cart, decorated for the parade.

Members of the Longbeach Village Association enjoyed an Italian dinner, cocktails and conversation Wednesday, Dec. 11, during their holiday party at Bayou Tavern.

A few nights later, residents gathered for a parade down Broadway and a chance to meet Santa on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 14. The procession ended at Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant with refreshments and a Christmas ugly-sweater contest.

The festivities continued into the evening with the Cortez Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade, which began in the Moore’s/Mar Vista basin and ended at Seafood Shack in Cortez.

OPERTY MA

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Carson Johnson and Brian Nipper tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

Pat MacDonald and Verna Ritter enjoy the holiday party.

WHITNEY BEACH Bring your decorating ideas to this 1BR/1BA, 2nd flr condo with beautiful Bishop Bayou and canal views. Over 900 sq ft of living space. Being offered turnkey furnished and As Is with Right to Inspect. Whitney Beach offers 3 heated pools, docks/boat slips on protected water a short boat ride to Sarasota Bay, kayak launch & storage area, beach front tennis courts, fishing pier and several hundred feet of deeded beach front and miles of sandy beaches. A3985987 $189,000

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Offered furnished. This is a Ritz Carlton managed property....................................................................................$3,895,000 LONGBOAT KEY - charming 3/3/waterfront home across from a 7 acre preserve.......... PENDING... $515,000 WINDWARD BAY - 2/2 direct bay front with amazing bay views and a peak of the Gulf. 2 pets allowed. Many community amenities. Offered furnished ................................................................................................................................$285,000 MARINA AND BAY VIEWS at Bay Harbour on the south end of LBK – just minutes to St. Armand’s Circle. 2/2 with screened porch. ........................................................................................................................................................... SOLD........$275,000 LONG BEACH - Elevated Longboat Village home with 4 car garage, vaulted ceilings and lush landscaping... SOLD...$375,000 BLACKBURN POINT WOODS - Beautifully appointed maintenance free 4/3 villa with its own pool in an attractive neighborhood close to Casey Key. Amenities include tennis, community pool and clubhouse. .........................................$349,000 WINDWARD BAY - corner villa with a screened porch, carport, full size laundry room and a beautiful yard. 2 pets allowed.............................................................................................................................................................................$279,000 WINDWARD BAY - 2/2 with expansive view of Sarasota Bay. Community amenities include 2 pools, tennis,clubhouse, boat

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16A

tennis time

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

TOURNAMENT WINNERS

by Kelsey Grau | Community Editor

Division I — Scott Allen, Lynn Thompson, Astrid Graalman and Carl Stiel Division II — Joe and Laura Esposito, David Glorius and Kimberly Carreiro Division III — Dominique Kohlenberger, Bob Dreyfus, Helen Smith and Walter Hackett Division IV — Roger Blair, Kristen Beeman, Angie Easer and Jim Purcell Division V — Bob Gary, Bonnie Wilder, Dorna Virgo and Chip Elitzer

Division III Champions Dominique Kohlenberger, Bob Dreyfus, Helen Smith and Walter Hackett

Photos by Kelsey Grau

Judy Boice and Betty Aden

Observer Challenge results in a winning weekend The 14th annual Observer Challenge kicked off Thursday, Dec. 12, with a pre-party at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center featuring cocktails, wine and hors d’oeuvres catered by Harry’s Continental Kitchen. Guests were also treated to a pro mixed-doubles exhibition.

The tournament began Friday, Dec. 13, and concluded with finals Sunday, Dec. 15.

Residents and visiting players came together for a weekend of competitive fun on the courts. The tournament’s format of four players per team with four levels of play is unique to USTA tournaments.

It includes both singles and doubles for each team, so the players must work collabora- Division IV Champions Roger Blair, Kristen Beeman, tively for a win.

Angie Easer and Jim Purcell

Enrique Vela returns a serve.

Left: Division I Champions Scott Allen, Lynn Thompson, Astrid Graalman and Carl Stiel

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Don’t Miss These Special Editions!

January 2 - Year in Review/Year in Pictures

Deadline: Thursday, December 19, 10am

January 9 - Top issues for 2014 Deadline: Thursday, January 2, 4pm

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

17A

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Longboat Key, Villa Di Lancia $1,399,000 3/3 Patrick DiPinto 941-387-1866 MLS#A3972290 79211

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores $1,250,000 3/3 Babette Paige 941-388-3966 MLS#A3988942 44918

Sarasota, Bird Key $1,195,000 4/3 Roger Pettingell 941-387-1840 MLS#A3989013 79231

While You Sleep,Your Home is Traveling theWorld.

Our unrivaled Internet reach and 3,100 offices in more than 50 countries will showcase your house to buyers around the globe, 24/7.

Mainland Sarasota 1350 Main $599,900 Martina Coppenrath, 941-387-1853 Sweeping views of intercoastal; heart of downtown; designer inspired 2BR/2BA. MLS#A3986138 77475 Alinari $395,000 Faye Doyle, 941-504-7496 2/2 Acacia wood flooring, city and pool views. You can walk to downtown SRQ. MLS#A3985017 91211 Broadway Promenade $315,000 Kathy Scott, 941-388-3966 Outstanding 2BR/2BA condo. Walk-in closet, central heat/air. City water. MLS#A3988407 44917 Gulf Gate $249,000 David/Wendy Leventhal, 941-387-1843 For real comforts, see this fenced 2BR/2BA ranch. Garage, colorful oaks. MLS#A3976681 79235

Longboat Key, Seaplace $710,000 3/2 Sandy Endres 941-387-1861 MLS#A3971086 79247

Pelican Cove $244,000 Taube Levitt, 941-388-3966 Settle with ease in this delightful 2BR/2BA condo. Harbor views. MLS#A3986573 44915 Veranda 3 At Heritage $166,000 Glen Ridgeway, 941-388-3966 You will live well in this comfortable 2BR/2BA condo in a gated community.

MLS#A3988959 44916

The Keys Bird Key $2,875,000 Lynne Koy, 941-387-1803 Choose the elegant simplicity of this tile-roofed 5BR/5+BA contempo. MLS#A3988925 79236 Ritz Carlton $1,695,000 Tom Fynes, 941-387-1875 World class gulf front luxury Ritz Carlton; 2,019 sq ft; 2BR/2.5BA; furnished. MLS#A3974084 79241 Beachplace $899,000 Maggie Hicks, 941-387-1860 Surround yourself with luxury in this gracious 2BR/2BA condo. Elevators. MLS#A3983851 77467 Sea Gate Club $749,000 John Sloan Smith, 941-587-0348 2/2 PH condo.

Full panoramic gulf and sunset views from your balcony. MLS#A3988257 91226

Longboat Key, Islands West $649,000 2/2 Barbara Ackerman 941387-1820 MLS#A3985824 74446

University Park $679,000 3/3 Carolyn Donnelly 941-387-1835 MLS#A3982084 95172

Tidy Island $574,900 Michelle Musto, 941-387-1882 Verify for yourself the charms of this wonderful 3BR/2+BA condo. MLS#A3976683 74448 Lido Harbour $429,000 Angie Campbell, 941-383-6411 Renovated 2BR/2BA villa; new roof & AC; enjoy sunsets by the gulfside pool. MLS#A3976659 79287 Pelican Harbour $330,000 Phil Schneider, 941-387-1889 Direct bay views; tons of updates; pet friendly; excellent rental potential. MLS#A3985289 78627

Manatee Spring Lakes Condo $145,000 Scott Norris, 941-387-1880 You will love this very special 3BR/2BA condo in pondside setting. MLS#A3987206 79234

Venice/Osprey/Nokomis Manasota Land & Timber $739,000 Lucy McCulloch, 941-383-6411 4BR w/Lemon Bay views; secluded; walk to beach; huge pool. N Englewood.

MLS#A3983050 74443

Longboat Key, Beachplace $419,000 2/2 Bruce Myer 941-387-1859 MLS#A3981523 77469

Longboat Key, Price Reduced $295,000 2/2.5 Michael/Mary Nell Moore 941-321-8594/941-266-7740 MLS#A3958914 79271

The Oaks Preserve $395,000 Mirta Klauber, 941-387-1817 Golf course and exercise rooms. A charming aura comes with this condo. MLS#A3988065 78645

Yes, you can buy peace of mind! Contact a local Coldwell Banker associate. ®

Coldwell Banker Delivers Instantly! ®

Administered by American Home Shield



© 2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International, the Previews International logo and “Dedicated to Luxury Real Estate” are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification.

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Call 866.600.6008 from your smartphone and enter the  code to receive our mobile brochure with multiple photos, details and a virtual tour for any of these properties.

18A

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Top 1% Producer in Real Estate Sales for Sarasota & Manatee County!

REID MURPHY Luxury on the Water

by Kelsey Grau | Community Editor

Longboat Key Garden Club greets the season with dinner

Call REID Today!

941.232.3304

www.reidmurphy.com

holly jolly holiday

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, members of the Longboat Key Garden Club enjoyed wine, hors d’oeuvres and a potluck-style dinner at their annual holiday party at the Longboat Island Chapel.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT SPECTACULAR

New On The Market This Week!

Private Master plus Three Guest Suites

Left: Jackie Salvino, Mac Spitzer and Sherry Linhart

Indoor outdoor living with fabulous ammenities and water views. $5,500,000

Photos by Kelsey Grau

LIGHTHOUSE POINT GULFSIDE Gated 5BR w/private beach & gulffront pool .

$8,900,000

Lenny and Susan Landau

LIGHTHOUSE POINT CUSTOM HOME $3,850,000 Exquisite 5,000 SF waterfront 4BR home w/ dock.

$8,500,000 HIDEAWAY BAY SAILBOAT WATER $1,500,000 WESTWAY ESTATE ON NEW PASS 4BR home + 4BR guest house. 210’ frontage with dock.

5BR custom family home w/dock for 50’ boat.

Barb Kerwin with Sandy and Emmy Lou Gilbert

Barbara and Mike Gurchiek with Kathy Gricius

Angelo Furgiuele and Ron Johnson

POSITANO GULF FRONT PENTHOUSE $3,950,000 3BR/3BA + den. Superb amenities & finishes.

GRAND MARINER BAYSIDE $1,600,000 - $2,400,000 Luxury 3,200 - 3,600 SF 3BR condos with boat docks.

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME $925,000 Wide canal lot on Dream Island Rd. A boater’s paradise.

SLEEPY LAGOON BAYSIDE ESTATE $2,525,000 Approximately 2 acres, gated drive, tennis, deepwater dock.

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COUNTRY CLUB SHORES $2,495,000 BEACH FRONT ESTATE $3,795,000 4BR custom home w/designer finishes. Deepwater dock w/lift. 100’gulf front estate plus guest house. Beach sunsets & superb privacy.

Newspaper

Ranked No. 1 Weekly Newspaper in North America

L’AMBIENCE GULF FRONT 3BR CONDO $2,750,000 Southern exposure. Elegant designer upgrades.

LV5023

Developers Realty Inc. Lic. R.E. Broker • 1266 1st St., Suite 9, Sarasota, FL 34236

-2012 Local Media Association

128991

BAYFRONT POINT 4BR ESTATE $8.200,000 One private acre+ separate guest house. Boat docks.

f theYear

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

19A

the finest services of real estate Betsy Sublette, Assistant 941.284.8483

Daniel Volz, Assistant 941.893.3757

Cheryl Loeffler, MBA Realtor 941.302.9674 Premier Sotheby’s Top Producing Agent

GOLDEN GATE POINT FROM $3,495,000 AQUA offers eight beautifully appointed full-floor residences directly on Sarasota Bay ranging from 3,800 to 6,700 square feet under air, each with a private two-car garage and an individual boat slip. With a full-time concierge, luxurious state-of-theart amenities and proximity to downtown, AQUA redefines elegance, prestige and gracious living.

BIRD KEY

$7,800,000

BAY ISLES – LONGBOAT KEY

$3,995,000 HOLMES BEACH

$2,750,000

PALMER RANCH

$1,175,000

PRIVATEER – LONGBOAT KEY

$649,000 LAUREL PARK

$599,000

BEACHPLACE – LONGBOAT KEY

$438,000 LONGBOAT KEY

$399,000

Bayfront estate features 7,000+ SF of quality detailing and finishes 300’of seawall, 5 bedrooms, home theatre, 4-car garage and huge views

Gracious 5,300 SF pool home in Silver Oak 4 en-suite bedrooms, 3-car garage and complete privacy

BRADENTON BEACH

$499,900

Island Living at its finest Rarely available 1,449 SF penthouse with sunset views

Fantastic new home in the Harbor section with almost 6,000 SF Truly special custom detailing and design – perfect protected boating

The views from this updated 8th floor, south-facing condominium provide full gulf and bay views.

Sunny corner residence with new tile, new carpet and new furnishings.

Elevated 4 bedroom, 3 ½ bath home on 2 Gulf beach lots Magical water views

Charming, private and completely updated Mediterranean home with detached guest house and loads of character.

2 bedroom Florida cottage on oversized corner lot in the Village. Room for pool.

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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The Plaza at Five Points | 50 Central Avenue | Suite 110 | Sarasota, FL 34236 Cheryl.Loeffler@sothebysrealty.com | CherylLoeffler.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

REAL ESTATE REPORTS

TOP SALES ASSOCIATE Ranked in the Top .5%

By Robin Hartill | News Editor

+ Waterfront Country Club Shores home sells for $4.3 million

of Coldwell Banker Associates Worldwide

Ackerman

BARBARA

REALTOR®

The name to know in real estate

NEW

PRIC

E

barbara@barbaraackerman.com Direct 941-387-1820 Toll-Free 800-910-8728

For results, call Barbara!

Lido Regency - Bay and City Views Choice south corner two bedroom two bath apartment on the 10th floor with tons of space, oak wood floors, and spectacular Sarasota Bay and city views! $499,000

Islands West - Direct Gulf Front Beach, Views, Location and Opportunity!

Magnificent Southwest Beach & Gulf Views from every room of this 6th floor 2BR/2BA residence. $649,000

Ritz Carlton Tower Residences - Sarasota Below pre-construction price! Best downtown price per SF of 3,751. 6th floor corner furnished apartment with gleaming wood floors 3BR + Den/3BA. 2 terraces for beautiful $1,795,000 sunsets.

Ringling Pointe - Historic Sapphire Shores Stunning Direct Bay Front On 145 feet of deep water with 5BR/3.5 BA, a 2,200 SF master suite, 1,000 bottle wine room, $3,490,000 private dock.

LAUREL OAK ESTATES LAKE FRONT

A waterfront Country Club Shores home recently sold for $4.3 million.

Barbara Ackerman, of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate’s Longboat Key office, represented the seller. Michael Yawitz, of Michael Saunders & Co.’s Longboat Key South office, represented the buyer.

The transaction is the fifth-highest sale on Longboat Key in 2013 and the second-most-expensive sale for the year in Country Club Shores.

“This was a tremendous property with loads of unique features, from the car lift and waterfront garage door to the monochromatic blue interior décor and the magnificent entryway,” Ackerman said in a news release.

The home has more than 7,000 square feet and a twostory, glass-domed entryway showcasing a dolphin sculpture with multiple water and light settings. Other features include a four-car garage, private dock with a 30,000-pound boatlift and davit, 2,400 square feet of outdoor living space, an infinity pool, bubbling spa and overflow lap pool.

+ Premier Sotheby’s opens sales center at Palma Sola Bay Club

$1,175,000

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty announced that its new sales center at Palma Sola Bay Club, 6220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, is now open.

The 207-unit condominium project is located on 18 acres overlooking Palma Sola Bay. The first building will be ready for occupancy in January.

Prices start at $289,000. Units range from 1,791 to 2,040 square feet.

Prospect Real Estate Group and Rymer Companies are the developers of the project. Premier Sotheby’s associates Brian and Kathleen Maher are the exclusive on-site representatives.

Custom built 4,300 SF home with 3 bedrooms and a possible 4th bedroom in the attached guest house with full bath. Pool & spa area with summer kitchen looks out to long lake and lush golf course views.

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box. See answers on page 25A.

THE LANDINGS EAGLES POINT $799,000 Water Club I - Pied-Á-Terre Have a slice of paradise! Fully turnkey furnished 1BR/1.5BA apartment in a great location with easy access to the beach and amenities ready for immediate enjoyment, a rare opportunity! $599,900

Marina Tower - Downtown Sarasota Exciting city living in this gorgeous townhome.

3,890 square feet with 3BR/3.5BA and dramatic interiors and views. Two garage parking spaces and excellent amenities. $1,499,000

L NEW

ISTIN

G

© 2013 Universal Uclick

Corner Penthouse apartment with unobstructed water views from every window. Beautifully furnished with 3 bedrooms, glassed-in patio and 10ft ceilings. 2 valuable parking spaces included.

Siesta Cove - Waterfront Short Sale An incredible opportunity to live in a premier neighborhood, on a superb waterfront lot in a gorgeous 4,869 SF home. Open waterfront $1,805,000 views.

Phillippi Landings - Waterfront Value!

Turnkey furnished 2BR+ den/2BA Penthouse level apartment originally purchased for $773,100 includes private single car garage and premium deeded boat dock. $399,000

GRAND BAY II STUNNING VIEWS

WAGNER REALTY Bringing People Home Since 1939

www.WagnerRealty.com 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101, Longboat Key

Call 941-383-5577

127702

20A

FANTASTIC INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU! This is the only unit offered for sale in this complex. Updated, directly on the beach. Turnkey with upscale furnishings.

Weekly rentals available. Dia Wilson & Mary $249,900 Moore #M5835428

TROPICAL PARADISE ON BRADENTON BEACH Great income investment. Brand

$1,299,000

new furnishings. Pet friendly. Private beach access just steps away. Onsite cafe & gift shop. Daily rates available.

Mary Moore & Dia Wilson #M5835837

$269,000

ATTENTION INVESTORS!

2/2 Bayside rental is close to beach, shopping and restaurants. Newly renovated kitchen and master bath, new tile floors, vanities, doors & molding. Daily and weekly rentals available. Lissy LaFlamme #M5842265

$375,000

On the Gulf - Longboat Key Gated privacy on 1.69 acres directly on the Gulf of Mexico.

10,000SF, 7BR/6.5BA with attached guest wing, plus 5,000 air-conditioned SF of play and $9,400,000 storage area.

Whispering Sands - Siesta Key Amazing Sunsets from this Southwest corner 2BR/2BA beach front residence completely renovated directly on one of Siesta Key’s most unique beaches. $745,000

ISLAND STYLE INSPIRED 2BR/2BA Sunrises and sunsets from this beautifully furnished two bedroom plus den apartment at Grand Bay with gorgeous water views. Includes two valuable garage spaces. Shows like a model.

unit. Great rental income property was completely renovated in 2005. New kitchen & bathrooms. Oversized screened lanai for maximum garden view. Mary Moore & Dia $389,000 Wilson #M5835441

AMAZING VIEW!

Gorgeous white sand beach & Gulf view as you walk thru the door. Nicely furnished w/lg. screened lanai. Gulf to Bay community w/heated pool, tennis & cabana with BBQ. Teresia Bradford $550,000 #M5812253

Mobile (941) 780-6045 www.barbaraackerman.com Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, LLC 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite #1, Longboat Key

WICKER INN GULF BEACH RESORT with charming cottage ambiance,

Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

122693

All Barbara’s listings are linked Internationally in 13 languages.

decorated in Florida pastels, surrounded by gorgeous tropical trees and flowering landscape plants. Each suite has white wicker rockers on the porch or patio. Heated pool surrounded by flowers & white sand beach provide absolute serenity.

Reservations: 941-387-8344

VACATION RENTALS

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Lynne Koy ◆

941.387.1803

21A

presents her

LUXURY

PREMIER COLLECTION◆

BIRD KEY - Sprawling Waterfront Estate with spectacular water views and breathtaking sunsets! Situated on an oversized lot, this contemporary masterpiece offers over 6,000 square feet of indoor living space! $2,875,000

lkoy@coldwellbanker.com

Tour Lynne’s properties at

www.lynnekoy.com Follow me on

Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube

At The Chart House on Longboat Key

SPICE BAY - Antigua floor plan features 3BR/3.5BA, courtyard and pool. Builders - Perrone Construction. $2,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS - 3BR/3BA Penthouse with breathtaking Gulf, Bay and City Views! $1,949,000

BIRD KEY - 4BR/4.5BA Waterfront Estate with views of the Bay and Siesta Key. Remodel or tear down and build new! $1,725,000

BAY ISLES - Gorgeous 3600+ sq ft custom home located on golf course and lagoon.

3BR/3BA/2HalfBA/2CG. $1,395,000

Broker/Associate, CRB, CRS, GRI Previews International Property Specialist Legends Society Involved Citizen: Sarasota Opera, SPARCC, Make-a-Wish, Meals on Wheels, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Breast Cancer Awareness

Global MarketinG: NYtimes.com Birdkeynews.com Coldwellbanker.com Worldproperties.com Trulia.com LynneKoy.com Rightmoves.com Greatwaterfrontliving.com Realtor.com Zillow.com SEAPLACE G3-302…..….....$299,000

SEAPLACE - Enjoy views of the Gulf and Sarasota Bay from this direct Gulf front 3BR/2BA condo! $875,000

PLAYERS CLUB - Full Gulf views from one of the two balconies at this 3BR/3BA corner/end unit condo! $799,000

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES 3BR/2BA/2CG canal front home with dock, lift, & access to Sarasota Bay! $739,000

BAY ISLES - Beautiful 3BR/3.5BA BEACHES – 2BR/2BA 7th floor conhome situated on water’s edge. do with gorgeous full Gulf views Custom features, upgrades galore! and stainless appliances. $699,000 $725,000

ISLANDS WEST - Gulf and beach views from this 2BR/2BA condo!

Fully furnished; completely renovated! $679,000

LB ARMS 303C.……….....…$299,000 LB HARBOUR H-301…....…$269,000 LB HARBOUR H-104….…....$219,000 Search Lynne’s website in English and 19 other languages!

DEDICATED TO LUXURY REAL ESTATE SM Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

CONDO ON THE BAY – Full Sara- PRIVATEER SOUTH - 2BR/2BA FAIRWAY BAY - 2BR/2.5BA three sota Bay views from this 2BR/2BA condo with unobstructed Gulf and story townhome nestled within 11th floor, Tower I condo. $639,000 pool views from 2 glass balconies! lush, tropical grounds. $399,000 $456,000

40 MILLION “THANK YOU’S” TO MY CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT!

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REPORT CARD FOR 2012: 40 SALES $40,000,000 IN SALES VOLUME

22A

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

Longboat Shores home sells for $3.35 million The following residential real-estate transactions took place between Dec. 2 and Dec. 6.

A home in Longboat Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Stephen Hood, trustee, of Tampa, sold the home at 3315 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Michael and Elizabeth Roth, of St. Cloud, Minn., for $3.35 million. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,955 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1.1 million in 1997.

bath and 953 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $155,000 in 2001.

Charles Wickersham, Melanni Fowler, Mark Wickersham and Cynthia English sold their home at 731 Fox St. to Jason and Laura Stout, of Chalfont, Pa., for $265,000.

Built in 1950, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,382 square feet of living area.

Windward Bay

David and Fay Rosentahl, of Meadowbrook, Pa., sold their Unit 205 condominium at 4700 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Horatio Hoggard IV, of Norfolk, Va., for $320,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,312 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $425,000 in 2004.

Sanctuary at Longboat Key

Charles Jones, of Bedford Hills, N.Y., sold his Unit A-502 condominium at 575 Sanctuary Drive to The Noble Family Trust for $775,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,823 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1.02 million in 2007.

L’Ambiance at Longboat Key Club

Charles and Rosemary Zaepfel, of Webster, N.Y., sold their Unit B402 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive to CZM Management LLC for $750,000. Built in 1992, it has two bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,385 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1.18 million in October.

Country Club Shores

Christine Winchester, of Sarasota, sold her home at 560 Cutter Lane to Andrew and Kathleen Ferraro, of Longboat Key, for $690,000. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,745 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $285,000 in 1993.

Kevin Castelo, of Denver, sold his home at 584 Yawl Lane to Kazimiera Castelo, of Longboat Key, for $322,000. Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool

Whitney Beach Kurt Schultheis

This home at 3315 Gulf of Mexico Drive has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,955 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.35 million. and 2,083 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1,437,500 in 2008.

Sleepy Lagoon Park

Robert Hardaway III sold his home at 600 Marbury Lane to William and Margaret Loden, of Parkland, for $639,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,134 square feet of living area.

Thomas and Michele Weaver, of Dallastown, Pa., sold their home at 549 General Harris St. to Jerome and Sharon Glassman, of Ocala, for $500,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,689 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $500,000 in 2008.

Sea Twig

Elizabeth Broyd, of Scarsdale, N.Y., sold

her Unit 101 condominium at 5645 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Sea Twig 101 LLC for $515,000. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,395 square feet of living area.

Castillian

Geraldine Phillips, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 403 condominium at 4525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Mark and Heidi Schmeling, of Barrington, Ill., for $450,000. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,340 square feet of living area.

Longbeach

Tama Traberman, of Sarasota, sold her home at 691 Fox St. to Paul Chang and Patti Pakkala, of Manasas, Va., for $325,000.

Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, one

Andrew and Stephanie Graham, of Baltimore, sold their Unit 332 condominium at 6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Robert Palma, of Fort Salonga, N.Y., for $300,000.

Built in 1992, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 990 square feet of living area.

St. Judes Apartments

Lisa and Robert Kirkland, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 21 condominium at 739 St. Judes Drive S. to Arthur Baer and Patricia Baer, trustees, of Hillsdale, N.Y., for $225,000. Built in 1990, it has one bedroom, one bath and 868 square feet of living area.

Spanish Main Yacht Club

Green Real Estate LLC and MTM Real Estate LLC sold the Unit 1 condominium at 509 Spanish Drive N. to Ralph and Louise Monaco, of Bel Air, Md., for $220,000.

Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,357 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $100,000 in 1983.

LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER

1942 Wisteria St #A3974548 $729,900 Dede Curran

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-928-3255

2525 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 8B #A3968382 $709,000 Sandi Layfield

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-914-2807

2301 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 23N #A3984508 $699,000 Susan Fox

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-544-6648

1212 Ben Franklin Dr # 803 #A3989077 $672,000 Douglas Parks

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-400-9087

128 Golden Gate Pt # 202A #A3978317 $1,595,000 Peggy Mock

1085 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 602 #A3988701 $649,000 Jenifer Schwell

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-780-0968

411 Burns Ct #A3926009 $645,000 Tak Konstantinou

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-374-1606

4401 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 201 #A3989147 $624,900 Maureen Horn

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-539-3384

800 Ben Franklin Dr # 709 #A3986052 $600,000 Elizabeth Pitts

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-780-9536

4600 Bay Shore Rd #A3983290 $599,000 Nancie Kalin

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-356-3584

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-928-8833

5645 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 202 #A3986854 $595,000 Sylvia Zimmerman

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-350-5022

FAMILIAR FACES. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. Showcase your property to over 6,500 affiliate branches in 52 countries.

1916 Harbourside Dr # 803 #A3989011 $550,000 Jennifer Putnam

3481 Bayou Sound #A3981543 $1,395,000 Hannerle Moore

Longboat Key 941-951-6660 941-539-6768

888 Blvd Of The Arts # 406 #A3981731 $529,000 Audrey Singer

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-383-7591

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-387-7300

4485 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 503 #A3979554 $499,000 Steve Magner

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-376-8559

445 N Orange Ave # 304 #A3987318 $425,000 Diana Kryszak

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-993-4078

1930 Harbourside Dr # 124 #A3982406 $359,900 Saint Cacchiotti

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-809-0787

225 Sands Point Rd # 6204 #A3985969 $349,000 Terri Derr

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-356-6694

615 Dream Island Rd # 306 #A3969421 $339,000 Barbara Dumbaugh

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-350-3743

2039 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 204 #A3972416 $330,000 Tom Delaney

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-387-3990

6750 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 148 #A3978064 $300,000 Tammy Mast

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-256-6543

4830 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # V-11 #A3987845 $279,000 Bobbi Banan

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-2659

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

23A

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

michaelsaunders.com

BUILDING PERMITS

Explore now on your phone or tablet.

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Dec. 6 through Dec. 12, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive) Address

1135 GMD

Permit Doors and windows

Applicant Daniel Miller

$53,516

6271 GMD

Alteration

Julie Williamson, esquire

$28,735

551 Birdie Lane

Re-roof

George Kao

$24,945

6800 GMD

Kitchen

Annette D’Arcangelis

$24,931

412 GMD

Roof

Dry Dock Restaurant

$16,621

3710 GMD

Alteration

Timothy McCandless

$15,400

611 Triton Bend

Pool

Triton Bend IV LLC

$12,500

876 Tarawitt Drive

Re-roof

Moskovitz Real Estate and Equity $12,000

5581 GMD

Pool

Wicker Inn LLC

$10,800

6529 Gulfside Road

Alteration

Peter Reardon

$8,892

5280 GMD

Re-roof

David Lynch

$5,230

5280 GMD

Re-roof

Laura Dimauro

$5,230

4141 GMD

Alteration

Charles Harrison

$4,730

435 L’Ambiance Drive

Alteration

Donald Zimmerman, trustee

$1,200

435 L’Ambiance Drive

Alteration

John Bonina

$1,000

435 L’Ambiance Drive

Alteration

Joseph Paley, trustee

$900

435 L’Ambiance Drive

Alteration

Howard Tibbals

$800

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-228-8580

165 Tyler Dr #A3952310 Diann Thelen

4235 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # G203 #A3936274 $239,000 Eileen Burke

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-545-0899

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-266-8949

RE N TA L

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-374-9702

RE N TA L

637 Spanish N Dr #A3976185 $239,500 Maruta Miluns

4540 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 202 #A3979332 $274,900 Sharon Freeman

Sarasota $875-$1,950/week, 7 day min 941-552-4200

100 Sands Point Rd # 323 Longboat Key #A3983417 $2,800-$3,900/month, 90 day min Diann Thelen 941-552-4200

4430 Exeter Dr # 107 #A3968147 $269,900 Bruce & Jenine Meyer

The Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences # 809 #A3981649 $2,795,000 Michael Moulton

Lido Key 941-383-7591 941-928-3559

4171 Las Palmas Way #A3984519 $1,250,000 Jane Rees

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-586-3970

210 Sands Point Rd # 2507 #A3985077 $1,250,000 Ian Addy Pa

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-961-8850

3349 Sabal Cove Way, Bay Isles #A3971449 $1,175,000 Judy Nimz

Longboat Key 941-951-6660 941-374-0196

7792 Holiday Dr N #A3981288 $1,099,000 Marcia Salkin

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-376-6121

3060 Grand Bay Blvd # 124 #A3979353 $924,500 Kathleen Carbone P.A.

Longboat Key 941-966-8000 941-228-8429

3010 Grand Bay Blvd # 415 #A3983643 $899,000 Julie Klick

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-780-6001

813 Hudson Ave #A3976540 $889,000 Julia Mcclung

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-356-6499

383 Firehouse Ln #A3988309 $849,000 Maureen Horn

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-539-3384

2110 Harbourside Dr # 512 #A3987428 $825,000 Mel & Jan Goldsmith

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-6673

6560 Gulf Of Mexico Dr #M5842242 $750,000 Shelley Barker

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-706-5403

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-266-8303

3465 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 105 #A3983303 $239,000 Ian Addy Pa

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-961-8850

RE N TA L

4380 Exeter Dr # 102H #A3976328 $275,000 Richard Perlman

Amount

380 N Shore Rd # 3 #A3970841 Diann Thelen

Longboat Key $700/week, 7 day min 941-552-4200

VA C AT I O N R E N TA L S 5362 Sandhamn Pl #A3985643 $3,400,000 Connie Lyke Brown Pa

Mid Longboat 383.5502 • South Longboat 383.7591 • St. Armands 388.4447 Main Street 951.6660 • Palmer Ranch 966.8000 • Siesta Key 349.3444

Longboat Key 941-951-6660 941-951-6660

White Sands of Longboat whitesandsoflongboat.com 800.230.2428

113745

Veranda Beach Club verandabeachclub.com 800.411.5511

24A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

OBSERVER WEATHER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Do you love taking photos? We want your best photos of sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, etc.

Submit your local weather photos for a chance to have your photo published in the paper!

See all of the winning photos each week by visiting The Observer’s Facebook page.

TEMPERATURES

Record Temperatures High

Low

High

Low

Tuesday, Dec. 10

81

59

86 (1972)

29 (1917)

Wednesday, Dec. 11

84

65

87 (1972)

31 (1938)

Thursday, Dec. 12

75

55

85 (2001)

26 (1957)

Friday, Dec. 13

78

51

87 (1965)

22 (1962)

Saturday, Dec. 14

83

63

90 (1971)

23 (1962)

Sunday, Dec. 15

75

68

86 (1923)

31 (2010)

Monday, Dec. 16

66

51

86 (2001)

27 (1968)

Average Gulf water temperature: 74

MOON PHASES

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Dec. 25 Last Jan. 1 New Jan. 7 First Jan. 15 Full

Sunrise

Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 19

7:15a

5:40p

Friday, Dec. 20

7:16a

5:40p

Saturday, Dec. 21

7:16a

5:41p

Sunday, Dec. 22

7:17a

5:41p

Monday, Dec. 23

7:17a

5:42p

Tuesday, Dec. 24

7:18a

5:42p

Wednesday, Dec. 25

7:18a

5:43p

TIDES

Highs

Thursday, Dec. 19 Friday, Dec. 20

 Judy Schattner submitted this sunset photo, taken from the Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island.

Scan the QR code on your smartphone to submit your weather photos!

Or visit YourObserver.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

1 5 8 12

23 25

27 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 41 44 45 48 49 50

1. Y M N R B P B Q I R F N K T D F L R Y M W A D C D F O Z W L C O R W H Q L R M I R I M S I R . Q I ’ R A N N O D B R D S L FA D F O V I I H R Q L R T N F I P L F D R F N K Z D F V. 2. H M N Y A F H Q Z W A M W V X K K F X W X E X D Y Q J V M W Z W Z X E N V D M W S H X W S D X J W K Q D S X S M Q J , H M N A W Y X S A W.

2:31p

8:04a

6:58p

2:56p

8:38a

7:48p

1:00a

3:23p

9:12a

8:43p

3:52p

9:46a

9:44p

Monday, Dec. 23

2:44a

4:24p

10:22a

10:53p

Tuesday, Dec. 24

3:48a

4:58p

10:57a

— Wednesday, Dec. 25

5:04a

12:08a

— 11:36a

IN SEASON by Jerry Berns

22

CRYPTOGRAMS

— 12:15a

Sunday, Dec. 22 ­1:49a

ACROSS

19 20 21

3

Saturday, Dec. 21

Lows

53 55 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 71 72

Quirky habits The lady Lady’s maid in India Improper distribution of cards Vocalist Fitzgerald Scotsman’s cap Run-down place to eat Shakespearean tragedy Impart knowledge again What an avid baseball fan may own Aug. 4 is one Speech imperfection Suffers defeat Preserves from oblivion Tons No longer amusing Trigger puller?

FedEx alternative Beats, as an incumbent “___ this corner ...” (boxing intro) OPEC customer Hotel room upgrade Frat letter WWII battle site in France Ceremonial celebration The real ___ (the genuine article) Tea type (var.)

A little drunk Allowing seepage Fort Worth sch.

High-society roster By way of A person may have one of invincibility Resets one’s clocks Burden of proof Plumbing pipe with

73 74 75 78 80 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 93 94 95 96 99 103 106 107 109 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121

a right angle Marry in haste One doing time Start to give in Tim and Harry Grooming practice Like crystal Work produced by manual labor Pear-shaped instrument Feel out of sorts Weather balloon “ ___ the ramparts ...”

Katmandu’s country “War and Peace” author Woman in a habit ___-Man (video game) “Figured it out!”

Ready for plucking Seven-piece combos ___ Canyon National Park Person under the Union Jack Jan. 4 is one $100,000, for some Wallace’s first “60 Minutes” co-host Ratite relative Niagara River source Nickelodeon’s “Kenan & ___” Spanish artist Salvador Mick Jagger’s home country Indian flatbread Yearbook sect.

5-Across, in Venice

DOWN

1 Brief 2 Part of the small intestine 3 Tackle Everest 4 World’s smallest

republic 5 “It was a dark and ___ night ...”

6 Die-___ (bitterenders) 7 Austen novel 8 Product movers 9 Cedes the right of way 10 Make use of 11 “Steppenwolf” novelist Hermann 12 Tues. preceder 13 “Addams Family” member 14 Swindlers’ decoys 15 Translate, as a secret message 16 Wild buglers 17 Away from the wind, at sea 18 Way more than a few 24 Criminal 26 Photo ___ (campaign activities) 28 Y’all, in Brooklyn 33 Abstract painting style of the ‘60s 34 Atomic number of hydrogen 37 All-purpose vehicle, briefly 38 With the bow, in music 39 You of yesteryear 40 Asian restaurant sauces 41 Some are FDICinsured 42 Spingarn Medal awarder 43 Voice a formal objection 44 ___ hammer on (pounds) 45 Flavorful 46 More than risky 47 More than unfriendly 50 Gadget for a grease monkey 51 Ignorance, in an adage 52 Composer of over 400 concerti

53 Juicy tidbit 54 Maryland seafood specialty 56 Way of doing things 58 Preacher’s podium 61 Words seen before closing credits 63 Emotionally distant 65 Very small quantity 66 Fail to pronounce, as a syllable 67 Church platform 68 Behave badly 69 Terra ___ 70 Demonstrate subservience 75 “Beat it, cat!”

76 Collection of miscellaneous pieces 77 Took a tumble 78 Wasn’t brave in the least 79 Scrub 81 Item of current technology?

83 Today, in Madrid 84 Keep the magazines coming 87 “___ guy walks into a bar ...”

89 Neck parts 91 ___ plexus (lower back network) 92 Louise’s partner in filmdom 93 Water-dwelling rodent 94 Petunia parts 96 Upper mgmt. degree 97 “Wizard of Oz” composer 98 Prom queen’s wear 99 Look of contempt 100 Actress Best and writer Ferber 101 Asian weight units 102 Six-Day War nation 103 Computer memory measure 104 It’s straight from the horse’s mouth 105 Partner of yin 108 Exasperates 110 Hither and ___ 111 South of France?

112 Craving 12-19-13

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Condos For Sale BEACH SIDE of street. 2 bed 2 bath Condo. $299,000 CLUB REALTY. Call 941-726-2677 Brooke O'Malley FREE! What every Real Estate buyer or seller needs to know!

Go to: www.yourmarketupdate.com INN ON THE BEACH: LONGBOAT KEY CLUB.

By Owner. Private club suite, turnkey, tennis, Golf course view, 650/sq.ft. $349,000. 708-267-6704.

Dec. 26th

Service Directory deadlines Dec. 17th at noon ClassiďŹ ed Ads deadline Dec. 18th at noon

Jan. 2nd

Service Directory deadlines Dec. 18th at noon ClassiďŹ ed Ads deadline Dec. 19th at noon

MARINA BAY: Largest condo under 1 million.

3BR/2.5BA, 3,100 sq. ft. Incredible views. Brooke O’Malley, CLUB REALTY. 941-726-2677

The Observer ClassiďŹ ed Dept. will CLOSE Dec. 23rd at 5pm for the holidays.

We will reopen Thursday, Jan. 2nd at 8:30am

127825

Happy Holidays To You and Yours!

Homes For Rent

Items Under $200 For Sale

General Merchandise

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

(No phone calls please.)

(Please provide your name and address) Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group P.O. Box 3169 Sarasota, Fl 34230 FREE TV: Sony, 32�, perfect condition. Call 941-383-3844.

THRIFT SHOP: Longboat Island Chapel, 6140 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Open Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays, 9a.m.-1p.m.

Volunteers welcome! 941-383-6491.

FREE WOODEN SWING SET. Slide, fort and 3 swings. Call for time to pick up and remove from Sarasota backyard. 302-3079.

KITCHENAID ARTISAN Series 5-Quart Mixer, white. New, still in box. $200.00 firm.

603-759-6598.

SCULPTURE BY Eleanor Heller. “Voices from the Earth�, 22� tall. $200. 941-921-7674.

Autos For Sale 2003 MERCEDES E320. Beautiful classic black, leather, garage kept, 125,000 miles with another 125,000 to go! Call 349-4835 to see, $11,999.

Jewelry EXQUISITE JEWELRY Engagement Ring.

Outstanding 3.03 ct., Fancy Yellow.

Emerald cut VVS center stone with 2 plus kt. side stones in 18 kt. white gold mounting. Appraised over $50k. Sell now $23k. Fabulous ring, must see. Also 8 kt. Tennis Bracelet, white gold. $6500.

941-650-8080.

Merchandise Wanted BUYING VINTAGE Sports Cards and Memorabilia, American Flyer and Lionel Trains, pre-1970.

Leave message 941-928-5908.

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, time pieces, coins, jewelry and antiques. Please call Marc, 941-321-0707.

Storage STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

LIDO SHORES: Waterfront home 3BR/3BA. Lagoon Pool/Spa, Dock, Private Beach access.

Walking distance to world class shopping and restaurants! Furnished or unfurnished. Annual rental. $4500/month. Call 941-928-1542.

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

Need More

ROOM for

Your Seasonal Guests?

Introduce your guests to a tropical winter stay at an unforgettable haven on the beach.

LONGBOAT KEY: beach facing, 3BR, $1900/mo. +utilities. Updated, granite/ stainless kitchen, garage, patio, 55+. 941-232-1357.

B E A C H

Luxurious suites & penthouse accommodations

Lots/Acreage For Sale BIRD KEY. Prime Sarasota Bay lot. SSE exposure.

Waiting for your dream house. For sale by owner.

No brokers please. 631 Mourning Dove. See our lot on www.forsalebyowner.com. $2,800,000.

941-388-7832

C L U B

'ULF OF -EXICO $RIVE s ,ONGBOAT +EY s 6ERANDA"EACH#LUB COM

Real Estate Wanted WANTED LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS

Charming Gulf-to-bay cottages 124953

The Observer ClassiďŹ eds Holiday Early Deadlines . for Dec 26th and Jan. 2nd

'ULF OF -EXICO $RIVE s ,ONGBOAT +EY s 7HITE3ANDS/F,ONGBOAT COM

For Qualified Waiting Clients Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals 941-225-1356 email: info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com Personalized attention with professional honest advice.

25 Years Experience - References available

“Your Home by the Sea�

Help Wanted

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

www.casadelmar.net

Autos Wanted

WANTED: EXCELLENT all around cook to deliver and serve 3 meals weekly to couple on Longboat Key. 941-383-7545.

Weekly/Monthly Condominium Rentals 4 Night Minimum

WE BUY CARS. TOP $$ PAID FOR YOUR VEHICLES. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Condos/Apts. For Rent

BEACH PLACE: 3BR/2BA, fully furnished, elevator, gated security, pool, walk out to beach.

Available January 1st, seasonal or annual.

631-765-3162 Exceptional Vacation Rentals Since 1994 Homes & Condominiums Studios to Six Bedrooms Beachfront, Intercoastal or Garden Excellent Service & Staff

Office Open 7 Days, 9a.m. - 5p.m.

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228

FloRIDA VACATIon ConnECTIon

Fully equipped 2BR/2BA condos with washer and dryer, and wireless internet in each unit.

Boat Slips For Rent/Sale 45’ BOAT Slip for rent: Longboat Key Moorings.

941-812-3395 HIGH & DRY, indoor boat slip for sale or rent. Fast, easy, access to Gulf and Bay. Owner financing available. Why rent when you can own? Call 941-544-5597.

LONGBOAT KEY: Indoor boat slip for rent. Top Level, 30/ft. length x 8/ft 6� beam x 9/ft. 10� height. 941-806-8500.

Boats Boats are selling very well. We need your boat!

Please visit, www.Islandboatsales.net Buy-Sell-Consign-Donate. “Business on a Handshake� Call Dave, (owner) 941-228-3489.

ChitwoodCharters.com Cruise or Fish Hyatt Sarasota Docks 32’/53’ Yachts - 2hrs./2 months 941-383-5232 LBK BOATERS..SELLING OR buying, call Captain Dave! World Class Yacht Sales (877)901-BOAT. captaindave@wcyachtsales.com

Furnishings BRAND NEW Serta Queen Pillow Top Mattress Set Willing to sacrifice for $150! (941)387-4810.

WYLAND DOLPHIN Glass Top Coffee Table.

Great price! 863-412-1796.

This week’s Sudoku answers

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 117730

BEACHPlACE, lBk. Casual beachfront living in 2BR/2BA, balcony condo. Olympic pool, health club, tennis courts. Available June through December, $2000/mo. Also available January through March, $5000/mo. Call for info. Contact Elizabeth/NYC. 212-570-2950.

LBK PORTOBELLO BEACH FRONT: 2BR/2BA Condo on 4th floor.

For details and Virtual Tour, visit: www.BeachAbodeLBK.com Phone 815-919-5357.

LBK: SANDS POINT 1BR/2BA, annual, unfurnished. Non-smoking, No Pets. $2000/month.

941-383-3702 LBK: TIFFANY Plaza Beachfront Condos, 1st floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, walk out to beach.

Furnished, heated pool, covered parking. 1 mo. min. 941-383-3338.

RITZ CARLTON Marina: 3BR/3BA townhome, 2 car garage, 3 balconies, large boat dock. N/P, N/S. $3500/mo. 970-948-6815

www.Flvacationconnection.com 941-387-9709 877-705-2460 LIDO BEACH Vacation paradise. 1 & 2 bedroom condos overlooking beautiful Lido Beach.

Weekly rates. Lido Dorset. Rental condo.

1-800-734-3370.

LIDO KEY Beachfront condo: 3BR/2BA, covered parking, nicely furnished. Seasonal rental: $3500/mo. or yearly lease at $2750/mo.

613-722-7767.

E-mail: lainecooper@cooperhr.com

.QVL <ZMI[]ZM

Reservations: 941-383-5549 Fax: 941-383-7925

Extra Large Heated Gulf View Swimming Pool!

OUR GUESTS RETURN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. WEEKLY RENTALS. Luxurious, fully furnished 1 - 4 bedrooms. Condominiums and Cottages.

Beach to Bay. On-site management. Pools, tennis, boat slips. Visit: www.FloridaRent.com for information and virtual tours. 800-333-7335, 941-383-3117.

This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword answers

?IV\ \W Ă&#x2026;VL I OZMI\ LMIT WV [WUM\PQVO aW]Âź^M IT_Ia[ LZMIUML WN'

AW] VM^MZ SVW_ _PI\ aW]ÂźTT Ă&#x2026;VL QV \PM KTI[[QĂ&#x2026;ML[ Your source for local ClassiďŹ eds

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 56733

2013

This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cryptogram answers

1. Frosty the snowman is frugal and builds up his reserves. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good at saving and keeps his money in a snowbank.

2. Mickey Mouse is happy as a lark on his usual Christmas transportation, mice skates.

26A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

26A Classifieds Vacation/Seasonal Rentals LIDO BEACH CONDOMINIUMS Weekly - Monthly - Seasonal

DECEMBER 19, 2013 THETHURSDAY, LONGBOAT OBSERVER

www.yourobserver.com Adult Care Services

Cleaning

Painting/Wallpapering

A Lending Hand, Inc.

CLEANING: HIGHEST quality, low cost. Punctual, honest, fast, very careful. References. Call Esperanza, 536-6733.

CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

RICK STEAKLEY PAINTING. Interior/Exterior.

Pressure Washing. Wallpaper Removal. Drywall Repairs. Reasonable. Reliable. Professional.

30+/years experience. References available.

Free Estimates.

Lic./Ins. 941-228-7605, rlsteakley60@gmail.com

Computer Services

Resort Properties, Inc. Licensed Real Estate Broker Full Service Condominium Management

Cmagik - LBK resident, servicing our island year round for over 12 yrs. Bachelors Degree with 20 yrs. experience, PC or MAC. Professional help with computers, iPad/iPhones and tutoring.

References upon request.

Call Cort: 383-3878, 587-5588 cmagik.com

941-388-3921 - 888-388-3921 941-650-1857 Visit us at: resortproperties.pro LONGBOAT KEY BEACHFRONT: 1BR/2BA. Sands Point condo with Gulf views, large living room, den and beautifully renovated kitchen. Call 203-984-8477 or email: garment@optonline.net LONGBOAT KEY. Gulf front, heated pool on beach, 1BR/1BA condo, full kitchen, dining, sleeps/4, king pillowtop. 617-328-7145, 857-939-1049.

ON THE Gulf w/pool. 1BR condo, sleeps 4. Nicely furnished, cable, phone, full kitchen, living, dining area, W/D in building. Weekly or Monthly. May through January. $1600/mo. 941-351-5101.

THE ULTIMATE VIEW OF THE GULF! Beautiful 3BR/2BA condo in small, intimate 11 unit building, ½ mile N. of Publix. Twenty feet from the beach!

All desired amenities, including pool, large balconies with full gulf view from each bedroom.

Ceiling to floor windows everywhere. One month minimum. Now renting for summer and fall 2014 & winter 2015. Available for personal viewing from 12-30 to 1-13. E-mail photos are available.

Phone 1-812-455-7237 or E-mail: rednose@evansville.net

THE WESTCHESTER GULF FRONT 2BR/2BA, open, direct views, tennis court, 2 heated pools, steps away from the sand.

Recently remodeled.

941-228-5671.

Weekly/ Monthly/ Seasonal Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-6127 Visa/ MC 800-352-0367

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Provides home healthcare from as little as 4 hours to 24/7 care.

For more info Phone: 941-809-3725 License #230506 & #30211577

OWN A MAC/iPHONE/iPAD? MacTutor has 21+ years experience teaching Apple products.

I speak English, not “Geek”! (941) 812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Accounting/ Taxes

ISLE TILE

GULFSIDE A/C & Heating, LLC. SALES & SERVICE, FREE ESTIMATES! 10 MINUTE RESPONSE. Visa/MC/Disc. Lic. #CAC1816929 941-962-6863.

FOR “QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE”

Auto Transport

Floors, bathrooms, showers, backsplashes, patio and pool decks.

Catering

YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Gail Sunray, Owner

Home Improvement/ Remodeling

Air Conditioning

SHIP YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Personal Services

I come to your home or office.

4 Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation 4 Organizing Personal and Business Files 4 Budgets & Financial Reports 4 Federal and State Tax Returns

20 years design background.

Licensed - Insured - LBK Resident References upon request.

941-383-2659

BONDED & INSURED Over 25 yrs. experience

HHHHH BLUE DOLPHIN CAFE FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE BACK AT OUR LONGBOAT KEY CENTRE SHOPS LOCATION!!

JOHN GUBERNAT SERVICES Residential/ Commercial. Handyman Repairs, Roof Repairs, Coatings, Painting, Power Washing, Property Management, Home Watching. LBK Resident. Lic./Ins. 941-962-4867.

Telephone: 941-749-5646 yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com

STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS

DOGGY HOTEL/GROOMING. 24 Hour Daycare.

FREE Daycare with groom (we are the best).

3925 Brown Avenue behind Sleep King. doggyhotel.net 941-554-4620.

PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION

FRIDAY **DECEMBER 20**

TIKI TIME PET SITTING! In-Home Pet Sitting! Leave your fur kids in their environment with trusted, loving care! Providing quality pet care for 10 years! No extra charge for multiple pets & Holidays! Excellent references.

480-694-0756 tikitimepetcare@gmail.com

20 YRS. EXPERIENCE

4 LIVE MAINE LOBSTER 4 BLUE FIN CRAB CAKES 4 PRIME RIB 4 VEAL PICCATA

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

ALL ENTREES SERVED WITH CHEF’S CHOICE STARCH & VEGETABLE

Pet Services

Transportation TILE TILE TILE

HOMEMADE PIES! AND MUCH MORE... JUST ASK...

FRIDAYS NOW OPEN 8A.M.-8P.M. FULL MENU AVAILABLE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER

ISLAND SEDAN Serving Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, West Bradenton and St. Armands Towncar Service Rates: To or From: Tampa International Airport: $80 St. Pete/Clearwater Airport: $75 Sarasota/Bradenton Airport: $35 Call for rates to other locations Gratuities not included.

941-730-8803 islandsedan@gmail.com www.islandsedan.com

All Variations of Ceramic Tile Supplied & Installed.

Free Estimates & Custom Designs.

Expert Marble & Travertine Installation Floor & Walls

O Sell your service with success.

Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.wagnerrentals.com

62/'

383-3787 CALL FOR RESERVATIONS BEER & WINE AVAILABLE

Cleaning

www.yourobserver.com

BLUE FISH CLEANING INC. 941-705-3812.

Insured, Bonded. Affordable reliable home cleaning, $60, 2 cleaners, 2 hours.

Grout Cleaning & Sealing Service Available

Call Ashdown Flooring, Inc. LICENSED (941) 726-3077 INSURED

Masonry

Advertise in the Service Directory Call 955-4888 for more information...

FIND Say You Saw it in

ALL TYPES OF MASONRY Specializing in concrete driveways, pavers, decorative concrete, stone work, patios.

Call for free and honest estimates.

941-525-2435

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

in the

IT!

www.yourobserver.com Classifieds

118 Every 4 weeks!

$

45*

*4 week commitment required

SAVE 20% off

THE REGULAR PRICE with a 12-week commitment

ACTUAL SIZE

205 Every 4 weeks!

$

*4 week commitment required

00*

ACTUAL SIZE

PelicanPRESS SIESTA KEY

LV6445

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m. M-F

27A Classifieds 27A

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Jessica Cohen turns circles in the role of Clara.

PAGE 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

FOOD

Darwin’s Celebrity Chef dinner PAGE 10

FOOD&COOKING | LITTLE GUYS

BLACK TIE

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by Mallory Gnaegy | A&E Editor

Courtesy photo

HARV ES T I NG an economy

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FOOD&COOKING COVER STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

2

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT: HOLIDAY TRADITION

by Mallory Gnaegy | A&E Editor

COHEN STEPS INTO THE CENTER RING D New Sarasota Ballet dancer Jessica Cohen left her hometown San Francisco to run away with the circus.

Photo by Mallory Gnaegy

“It seemed to be an instant connection,” Jessica Cohen says of Sarasota Ballet. “The moment I got here, I felt completely at home and so welcomed …

It just felt really right.”

ancer Jessica Cohen’s work visa was denied. It was August when she discovered she wouldn’t be able to return to England, where she had danced in Northern Ballet’s company. It gave her three months to find a new job.

The 21-year-old had heard of Sarasota Ballet. She had heard of its artistic director, Brit Iain Webb, and The Sir Frederick Ashton repertoire. She had heard that it was a company like herself: American under English influence. (Perhaps she had read this in one of the three New York Times articles about Sarasota Ballet in the past year).

Fortunately, Sarasota Ballet had an unpublicized availability.

So, Cohen carried-on her pointe shoes and flew to Sarasota to take the company’s daily class.

“In my heart, I thought, ‘This has to be it,’” she says.

And it was — the ballet immediately offered her a contract.

Cohen joined the company for the 2013-2014 season.

The timing was perfect. With Sara Sardelli’s switch from principal dancer to outreach coordinator following last season, the ballet was Clara-less for its “John Ringling Circus Nutcracker” production. Sardelli set the bar high: She added an innocent curiosity and enchantment to the debut role in the circus-themed original production that parallels the life of John Ringling with the traditional story of “The Nutcracker.” The directors quickly learned

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

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IF YOU GO ‘John Ringling Circus Nutcracker’ When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 Where: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Cost: Tickets $15 to $100 Info: Call 359-0099, Ext. 101

Courtesy photos

 Jessica Cohen as Clara at San Francisco Ballet in 2007  Cohen as the Sugar Plum Fairy at English National Ballet School in 2011.

chosen as Clara in the San Francisco Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”

That Christmas, instead of a black velour and gold-skirted princess dress, she wore Clara’s nightgown and danced across the stage with the company of San Francisco Ballet — just like she promised.

“That was the defining moment for me,” she says. “That’s when I decided I had to give everything to become a ballet dancer; it was the most incredible and empowering experience being on that stage.”

She ended up playing Clara at Northern Ballet, too — the

role has followed her during her career. Even so, Cohen was surprised to learn she’d be given the opportunity again in Sarasota.

“Iain Webb and Ms. Barbieri were really open in sharing their vision with me for the company.

They seemed very passionate about nurturing dancers and giving them opportunities,” she says. “I’m so grateful.”

In fact, she uses the word gratitude and grateful a handful of times in a genuine outpouring of thankfulness for Sarasota Ballet, its directors and its dancers.

She’s excited for opening night.

Sarasota’s version is a completely different take on the classic. She’s enjoyed learning the role and building her character using pantomime. Although there is no speaking in the ballet, Cohen creates narratives in her head about what’s taking place on stage to bring her character to life. The circus element is new and exciting.

“I do feel the wonder and imagination and all the laughter,” Cohen says. “It feels really real with the way the story has been created.”

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Cohen is perfect for the role of the little girl who runs away to a circus town.

Like with most dancers, “The Nutcracker” is a holiday tradition for Cohen. Every year since she was 4, she’d put on her formal black velvet and gold dress — while it still fit, of course. Then, she and her f e male cousins would pile in Grandma Mitzi’s gold Lexus and head across the Golden Gate Bridge, where they’d have a pre-ballet tea party at the Neiman Marcus building near The War Memorial Opera House. She says the gold ornamentation and holiday décor surrounding the stage at the opera house always enchanted her. She promised her grandmother that one day she’d dance on the stage with the San Francisco Ballet Company.

She started small. Her earliest memory performing was at age 7 when she danced as the angel in her local studio, Marin Ballet School’s, “The Nutcracker.” She also danced as the mouse and the black sheep in later performances. As a teenager, Cohen decided she wanted to be a ballerina. In 2007 she joined the San Francisco Ballet School.

Cohen is well-spoken and charming when she explains her career started much like the students of the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory — she’d do independent study in the morning and train the second half of the day.

Her first year there, she was

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Gifts

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DIVERSIONS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT: SPOTLIGHT

WHERE ARE THEY?

Art Center Sarasota visits Art Basel

for the holidays (or all year round) This holiday season, make charitable giving personal, meaningful and fun!

For the first time, Art Center Sarasota bused 32 of its modernand contemporary-art fans to Miami for Art Basel.

Purchase a Giving Spirit Card and share the joy of giving.

Select a Giving Spirit Card from a number of holiday designs and load it with a value of $25, $50, $100 or more. Cards can be conveniently redeemed online to benefit any 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. You receive a charitable tax deduction at the time of purchase, and the receiver experiences a gift that pays it forward. For more than 34 years, we have been the Giving Spirit and Heart of Sarasota County.

And we’re proud to share this avenue for charitable giving.

Purchase and redeem Giving Spirit Cards from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County online at CFSarasota.org or by calling 941.955.3000.

The group was too excited when they got to Miami to remember to take a group photo — but here they are back home at Art Center Sarasota.

by Mallory Gnaegy | A&E Editor Art Basel is a massive, open-air exhibition and gallery space that takes over all of South Beach and downtown Miami for the first week of December. Artists from around the country showcase their work to hordes of arts fans.

Sarasota photographer Arnold Berns went on the trip because he enjoys art and seeing what other artists create. He says he wouldn’t have gone if Art Center Sarasota hadn’t hosted a tour. While there, he photographed some of the art deco hotels in the area. The photos will be displayed in a Jan. 20 exhibition at Studio 41 B&W Fine Art Gallery, 253 S. Links Ave., in Towles Court. He drew a lot of inspiration from the many artists exhibiting, and he paid close attention to how the art was hung to inspire ideas for his own new gallery.

Artist Larry Fogard, who was also on the trip, was equally inspired by what he saw.

He compared the experience to a World’s Fair because so many international art enthusiasts and artist flocked to Miami for the event. He mostly traveled by himself because he believes art viewing is a personal experience. If the Art Center goes again next year, so will Fogard.

Amy Ernst said she had such a great experience, she’d like to extend the trip next year to include the pre-parties and black tie functions. As the granddaughter of Max

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Amy Ernst and Peter Fernfurt, owner of Die Gallerie, pose with a sculpture called “The Three Brothers” by Ernst’s late grandfather and famed surrealist, artist Max Ernst.

Ernst, she was mostly interested in seeing his contemporaries’ work, but was also interested in printmaking. Ernst, a printmaker, bought three prints while she was there. Ernst has only lived in Sarasota for a year and was hoping the trip would introduce her to other artists in the area. She was glad that her wishes came true.

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She’ll SayYes

Photographer Arnold Berns found inspiration for his photography at Art Basel. He took photos of the area’s art deco hotels while in Miami. You can see them at his new studio in Towles Court, called Studio 41 B&W Fine Art Photography, 253 S. Links Ave.

Donna Ogilvie looks at a piece by Mark Sijan.

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Emma Thurgood, Art Center Sarasota’s exhibition coordinator, arrived in Miami two days before the group so she could lead them on tours of Art Basel. Here, she’s visiting Mindy Solomon’s booth. Solomon curated “Child’s Play” last season at the Art Center.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT: HOLIDAY FILM PICKS

SEASON STUNNERS

by Pam Nadon | Film Critic

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” … especially for catching great films. ’Tis the season when studios strategically release the best they’ve got for the upcoming awards ceremonies. The following are at the top of my holiday picks list.

‘AMERICAN HUSTLE’ Director David O. Russell once again assembles a killer cast (Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams) all of whom play hustlers in one form or another. The story is a fictionalized version of the ABSCAM scandal, which exposed political corruption by the FBI back in the early 1980s. The trailer is hot. Dec. 20

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‘HER’ Spike Jonze directs as Joaquin Phoenix stars in this unlikely love story. A lonely man finds solace in the friendship of his artificially intelligent operating system (the voice of Scarlett Johansson). Has our relationship with technology gone too far? The delicate balancing of fantasy and reality is definitely Jonze's forte. Limited release Dec. 18

Expect the unexpected when Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) attempts to gain the rights to "Mary Poppins" from creator P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson). It seems there was quite a bit of behind-the-scenes fighting going on between the two concerning their visions of how the film should look. The rest is history. Directed by John Lee Hancock.

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BEST NONPROFIT Circus Arts Conservatory (Sailor Habitat Itʼs going to be a Grand Parade! ThisCircus) is an **Big eventCat the BEST WALKING Booker HS Cheerleaders **WSLR Radio whole family will enjoy. Come early, bring lawn chairs BEST PERFORMANCE Stage Door Studios **Sarasota High School Band and get ready for a great evening. **Honorable Mention

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The movie has been described as "a horror film with no blood." Stanley Tucci attempts to reconcile with his former mistress, Alice Eve, after four years apart. She's not interested. He becomes abusive. Director Neil LaBute, known for playing head games, never disappoints. Dec. 13

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

‘THE PAST’ Shadows of past secrets emerge in this dark character study selected as Iran's entry for Best Foreign Language Film. Berenice Bejo plays a Parisian woman seeking a divorce from her Iranian husband while living with a man whose wife is in a coma. Looks like an abundance of fuel for a fire. Directed

by Asghar Farhadi. Dec. 20

‘THE WOLF OF WALL STREET’ Director Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up for the fifth time in this tale of "greed and malfeasance." It’s based on the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, who made a fortune in the 1990s through securities fraud. And he had a hell of a time while doing so, judging from the trailer. Dec. 25

‘INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS’ Does luck play a role in separating success from failure? In the Coen brothers’ new film, that concept lies at the heart of this story about a cat-toting, struggling musician trying to get an audition. Problem: He's a folk singer in the early 1960s just as the genre is dying. Leave it to the Coen brothers to play cynical cosmic jokes on unsuspecting characters. Starring Oscar Isaac in the title role. Limited release Dec. 20

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‘LABOR DAY’ Kate Winslet plays a mentally unstable, reclusive mother who agrees to harbor an escaped convict (Josh Brolin). But is it forced or, perhaps, a case of Stockholm syndrome?

As she finds herself drawn to him, options become limited. Somewhat of a departure for director Jason Reitman, who is known for lighter fare. Dec. 25

‘AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY’ This star-powered film demonstrates that family dinners can become quite dangerous.

Meryl Streep plays the "acid-tongued" matriarch of a highly dysfunctional family whose husband (Sam Shepard) has disappeared. They gather together for consolation, which turns into chaos. Director John Wells manages to enlist the likes of Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and Chris Cooper ... just for starters. Dec. 25

‘LONE SURVIVOR’ Is the title a spoiler? Peter Berg directs this true account of four Navy SEALS who were ambushed by the Taliban in 2005.

From the trailer we learn that Afghan goat herders come, inadvertently, in contact with the SEAL team. A moral dilemma ensues for the soldiers ... kill them or let them go? Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Taylor Kitsch and Emile Hirsch star in this "true story of incredible courage." Limited release Dec. 27

YOUROBSERVER.COM // Read Pam Nadon’s review of

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Russia’s St. Petersburg Philharmonic Nikolai Alexeev, conductor • Denis Kozhukhin, pianist

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// FOOD&COOKING: LITTLE GUYS

by Mallory Gnaegy | A&E Editor (continued from page 1)

HARV ES T I NG AN ECONOM Y Bird Key resident Michael Yourison doesn’t offer the olive branch, he offers a whole harvest’s worth with his company, Buonafide Foods and Wines.

Courtesy photos

Above left: Suzy Steelman harvests antique olives. Top right: Michael Yourison explores wine grottos in Chiusi, Italy. Middle: Yourison samples olive oil straight from the press. Middle bottom: Friends and neighbors participate in a harvest celebration. Bottom right: Montefalco, Italy, wine harvest celebration.

ichael Yourison started his business to help save Lugnano, Italy’s economy.

Before he started importing Umbrian olive oil and other products to the Sarasota area in 2009, he wouldn’t have been able to tell you much about olive oil. He heard the town’s livelihood, its olive oil harvest, was struggling, and thought he could help by importing the product. So he put all his pits in the pot and out pressed and squeezed his business, Buonafide Foods and Wines.

Yourison spends part of his year living on Bird Key, and the other part of the year in Lugnano, a small town in the city of Umbria, in central Italy. The town has a co-op of 280 farmers, and Yourison and his wife, Suzy Steelman, participate.

Each November, they spend two days hand-picking olives from the 30-plus antique olive trees on their property. In their town, farmers help each other pick the harvest.

The couple also participates in celebrating the harvest with their friends and neighbors.

Yourison estimates that 85% of

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

9

// FOOD&COOKING

Where in the world?

Hosting a party?

Pick up some truffle honey from Olive Oil Outpost for your next get together. Here are some ways we like it: • For an appetizer, serve it with a plate of artisan cheeses.

• Sear scallops and pour truffle honey on top.

• Use it on your pizza crust.

• Make vinaigrette using lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon and truffle honey and use it on a salad.

• Pour it over grits.

• Use it as a marinade or a glaze on steak or chicken.

• Pour it over vanilla ice cream.

• You can use it wherever you’d normally use regular honey. the little community with a population of more than 1,500 is in the olive oil industry. So when farmers celebrate the harvest, it means the whole town celebrates.

It was November 2008, at Sunday lunch harvest celebration, that Yourison learned his farming friends and neighbors might be in trouble. They were discussing how mass-produced, inferior olive oil flooded the global market. People were less willing to spend a little more for the superior product.

Thus, the farmers of his co-op were contemplating not harvesting the following season.

“The red flag went up and we said, ‘Something’s not right. Maybe we could do something,’” he says.

Yourison has a history in supporting the little guys. He’s worked in the whole-food in-

dustry for most of his career. He worked for an organic poultry producer in Pennsylvania before opening his own brand that involved raising free-range organic birds. He learned that small food producers take the time to develop their products, and it reflects in the quality they produce.

His history with the Umbrian area started in 2003, when he and his wife decided to buy a little, parttime home in the Italian countryside. Steelman went to college there and speaks fluent Italian, and although Yourison struggles with the language, they both share a love for Italian culture.

When they came across the town of Lugnano, they felt they found something special. The city has a medieval feel with heavy stonewalls and expansive green rolling hills. It’s a traditional and simple farming town offering a familial charm from hard-working farmers known for producing

Places in town to find Buonafide Foods & Wines products:

Bird Key resident Michael Yourison imports his products from Lugnano, a small town in Italy’s central Umbria region.

wine, olive oil and truffles.

A week prior to closing on their house, the couple’s neighbors invited them over for a celebratory dinner (of course, his wife did most of the communicating). It felt like home before it was even home, even if they were the token American couple.

“We could be a part of a community, and not as an outsider looking in,” Yourison says.

As a part of the community, he wanted to help. Following the harvest celebration lunch when the flags went up, Yourison started researching and learning about the product. Part of that research was taste-testing. He brought samples back to Sarasota just to see if the product would go over well. His foodie friends loved it, and the local chefs were impressed. Many of them wanted to carry the high-end product (approximately $20 per bottle) in their restaurants.

“I think what I learned is that

Yourison’s tip to buying quality olive oil: Always look for a date on the back — either a harvest or sell-by date. If it doesn’t have the dating on the back, then don’t buy it.

Lugnano

people, chefs and owners are seeking products of great quality that have been raised in accordance to good farming practices,” Yourison says.

He started bringing back products twice annually. It ended up that the farmers decided to continue the harvest. Yourison doesn’t credit himself, but he likes to think he helped a little. And if anything, he’s the only supplier of the Umbrian wine in the region.

“These products are different and unique to the market that you can’t find anywhere else,” he says.

Since the first import to Sarasota in 2009, he’s started importing other products — truffles, pasta and wine. His focus is on quality.

He’s aware of what goes into the development of the food products he imports. He knows the farmers. He’s met the vintners. He’s participated in Italian harvest parades and drank newly produced wine straight from the barrels. He’s handpicked the olives and sampled it from the cold press. He’s been on a truffle hunt.

He has become one of the little guys.

Restaurants: Carmel Café and Wine Bar, 8433 Cooper Creek Blvd.

Caragiulos Italian Restaurant, 69 S. Palm Ave. Mediterraneo, 1970 Main St. No. 1 Andrea’s Ristorante, 2085 Siesta Drive CasAntica, 1213 N. Palm Ave. Pattigeorge’s, 4120 Gulf of Mexico Drive Treviso, 5401 Bay Shore Road Melange (formerly Lan), 1568 Main St. Sandbar Waterfront Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria Island Retailers, olive oil: Morton’s Gourmet Market, 1924 S. Osprey Ave. Yoder’s Fresh Market, 3434 Bahia Vista St. Retailer, olive oil and wine: Olive Oil Outpost, 401 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island Retailer, wine: Time Saver Food Store, 5353 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// FOOD&COOKING: A TASTY TOUR

by Heather Merriman | Black Tie Assistant Editor

Darwin’s brings Celebrity Chef Tour to Sarasota For the second year in a row, Darwin’s on 4th hosted the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner. The Dec. 11 event sold out once again and featured renowned chefs Steven Meese, Diego Oka, Steve Phelps and Anthony Lamas, who joined Darwin Santa Maria, in providing a unique five-course dining experience for guests.

Among those in attendance were Celebrity Chef Tour spearheads, president Jeff Black and founder Joe Farrell. Sarasota was the last dinner on the tour this year — the 2014 tour will start up again next month in Hawaii.

There were 25 dinners on the tour this year.

Chef Diego Oka’s Snake River Farms waygu skirt tataki with aji amarillo ponzu, spicy daikon, chives and micro wasabi

Celebrity chefs Steven Meese, Steve Phelps, Anthony Lamas, Darwin Santa Maria and Diego Oka

Kaitlin and Ellen Cornelius Crystal Lahners, Katie Biter and Amy Sussman

Photos by Heather Merriman

Vincente Medina and Lucy Villa with Chef Anthony Lamas’s Border Springs lamb albondigas

Jeff Black and Joe Farrell

The plates are ready and the first course, Mount Cook alpine salmon ceviche, by Chef Anthony Lamas, is served to the guests.

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Black Tie

INSIDE: Sarasota Orchestra Association Holiday Luncheon ‘Holiday Prelude’ PAGE 14

YourObserver.com

John and Co-Chair Chris Sancin

Co-Chair Carol Phillips, Maggie Kruger and Cheryl Burke

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Ernie and Ita Zito

Photos by Heather Merriman

 Co-Chair Jane Thompson and Molly Klauber

by Heather Merriman | Black Tie Assistant Editor The Asolo Repertory Theatre lobby was filled with fabulously dressed guests who gathered for an evening designed for giving at Designing Women Boutique’s gala and style show, themed “Designed to Give” Monday, Dec. 9.

The annual event (which sold out before invitations were printed) benefits Sarasota’s arts and human services organizations.

Jane Thompson, Designing Daughters president, Carol Phillips, Board of Trustees president, and Chris Sancin, Ambassador’s Guild president, co-chaired the event. Ida Zito, president-elect, was the sponsorship chair for the event.

The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction in the lobby followed by the entertainment and style show in

the Mertz Theatre. The event’s production team, consisting of Lauren Walsh, Joan Campo-Liga and Vicki Hornberger, welcomed guests and opened the show with an introduction, styled in fashions from Designing Women Boutique, of course. The show included performances from multiple art organizations, such as Sarasota Ballet, Players Theatre and Circus Sarasota as well as a style show consisting of 24 local women models.

After enjoying the performances, style show and live auction, presented by Dr. Arthur Guilford (the “La Dolce Vita” trip to Rome was the highest auctioned item, purchased by Nancy Markle), guests then made their way to Treviso Restaurant for dinner to complete the evening.

Flori Roberts and Beverly Bartner

Gloria Sobucki, Annie Sundeen and Joyce Sandler

Rudolph and Lois Lucek with Sue and Jim Lamy

Gene Noble and Pat Talbott

Amanda Pileggi and Jen Rust

Deborah Beacham, Stephany Dreher, Brook Dresser and Paula Strickland

Ellen Berman and Teri Hansen

12

DIVERSIONS

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// BLACK TIE: COLUMN

HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES

Benefiting: Perlman Music Program – Suncoast When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 (following celebration concert) Where: Michael’s On East Chairs: Kathy Horowitz, Diana Houston and Linda Ross Tickets: $500 Contact: 350-2338

S

THE CALENDAR CALLS ...

‘HE SAVED THE ASOLO. HE REALLY DID.’ Photos by Heather Merriman

Margaret and Bill Wise tion. Seen celebrating were Phil and Julie Delaney, Richard and Gail Rubin, Jim and Charlie Ann Syprett and Marcia Jean Taub.

See more photos from the evening online at YourObserver.com.

DiGabriele, Christine Jennings, Juanita Mumford and Marian Wallace, each of whom spoke affectionately of Millman, who put in 23 years at the Asolo Rep and since his retirement in 2006 has played a vital part in the growth of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe …

We know a trend when we see one … BT’s New York spies report that Phil King, almost-retired executive director of the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, and Dennis Stover, regional vice chancellor for advancement for USF-Sarasota Manatee, were shopping for wedding rings at Tiffany’s last week. Next

T

hat’s what Warren Coville said at the event welcoming Stanley Kane to the Asolo Rep’s Crystal Society Dec. 5.

“There wouldn’t be an Asolo if it weren’t for Stanley” is how Michael Donald Edwards put it.

So, even though Crystal Society induction recognizes donations of $1 million, which he

to wed: Harold and Ronald Kendal and Roger Capote and Jim Wilson … The perfect name … Every year during the holiday season, Sarasota Opera throws a dinner on the stage for its co-producers. An opera singer entertains, and this year, Executive Director Richard Russell and Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi teamed up to introduce Maria Natale, who sang Liu in last season’s production of “Turandot.”

Her name, Courtesy of Bill Wagy of course, translates to Mary; make that “Merry,” Christmas … A beautiful gift … Ellie Fitzgerald had her eyes on the door at Christmas in Candy Land Dec. 9, at Michael’s On East.

made in honor of his late wife, Janet B. Kane, Stanley is even more beloved for keeping the Asolo from going under in what he called the “dark days” of 1995.

Betsy Kane-Hartnett said that the theater is the philanthropy her dad is “most passionate about.”

Nobody could doubt that and nobody did.

 Jaimi McPeek, Gracie Weigman and Ellie Fitzgerald She was looking out to see when Gracie Weigman and her mother would arrive. Fitzgerald, who plays

BT is collecting events for the 2014 Black Tie social calendar — if we don’t know about it, we can’t cover it! Email the following information to stephanie@ yourobserver.com: name of your event; group hosting; group benefiting; time, date and place; ticket price; chairperson; contact name; phone number and email; website and event description. the role of Clara in “The Nutcracker” for Gulf Coast Ballet, takes a photo with Weigman each year at Make-AWish Central and Northern Florida’s annual event and lets the little girl hold her nutcracker. Every year Gracie cries when she has to give the nutcracker back. This year Ellie wanted to give Gracie a nutcracker she could hold, and also keep. “She saved up her money and bought a nutcracker to bring for Gracie,” says Ellie’s mom, Wendy Fitzgerald.

When Gracie arrived, Ellie immediately went over and gave her the gift.

The excitement and compassion between the two girls was beautiful.

Kitchen

of Euphemia Haye

In The

Touching performances … The crowd was clearly moved by Sarasota Orchestra’s performance at the JFCS Gala Dec. 15. Almost every piece the orchestra played evoked singing from the crowd … The many wives of Millman … The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota honored Howard Millman with its Luminaire Award at a luncheon Dec. 11 (see more photos on page 15). Millman’s reallife wife, actress Carolyn Michel, put the program together, and his four “office wives” were the opening act. His harem included Linda

S TIDBIT

Photo by Cliff Roles

Asolo Crystal Society Members Lee Peterson, Stanley Kane, Beverly Koski, Maurice Richards, Margo Coville, Jack Kesler and Warren Coville

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arasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation annually welcomes new donors of $5,000 or more to its Corinthian Society at a holiday reception, held this year Dec. 12, at Bird Key Yacht Club. For 2013, it had the largest number of new members, undoubtedly associated with fundraising for the recently opened new wing. The foundation also presents an Ambassador of Philanthropy Award, which is based not on money but on the impact of an individual on medical care within our community and beyond.

At the celebration, there were two such recognitions: The Harry Sudakoff Foundation and to William and Margaret Wise. Margaret Wise did a virtually indescribable amount of work as president of the foundation board for an unprecedented three terms and was instrumental in raising money for the new construc-

10TH ANNIVERSARY PERLMAN GALA

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

13

// BLACK TIE: CAMERA READY LEMUR CONSERVATION FOUNDATION GALA Benefiting Lemur Conservation Foundation Thursday, Dec. 12, at Michael’s On East Photos by Heather Merriman

 Alice Farley, Pat Pantello and Blair Brown

Michael Goldman, Charlotte Isaacs, Bob Petersen, Dr. Cathy McCabe and Joan Morgan

SONATA A DUE Benefiting La Musica Monday, Dec. 9, at Charles Ringling Mansion Photos by Heather Merriman

 Gloria Moss, Mike Ash and Marian Moss

Phillip, Chairwoman Charlene and Catherine Wolff with Conor Clymore

John and Virginia Harshman

Steven and Madeline Ast

Valerie, Avia and Anthony Goddard

Robert Stanton, Terri Derr and David Schenck

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// BLACK TIE: CAMERA READY SARASOTA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY LUNCHEON ‘HOLIDAY PRELUDE’ Benefiting Sarasota Orchestra Monday, Dec. 9, at The Francis

Julie Green, Eileen Green, Stacy Hanan, Dr. Allison Silver Schwartz and Michelle Mallitz

WOMEN’S DAY WITH CAMPBELL BROWN The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Monday, Dec. 9, at Michael’s On East

Photos by Heather Merriman

Roger Capote and Lisa Merrill

Photos by Heather Merriman

Cortney Davies, Nancy Beasley and Luann Sampson

 Fran Braverman, Lee Levins and Edie Chaifetz

Chairwoman Lynn Carvel, speaker Campbell Brown and Nancy Swart

Sally Brown and Chris Anderson

Rookie Shifrin and Shari Paler

Kathy Oarr and Irene Brady-Hedden

SAILOR CIRCUS ACADEMY PRESENTS

John Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker

The 2013 Holiday Spectacular

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 and 2 & 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

It’s a Wonderful Life

WHERE: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

A Magical Holiday Event for the Family!

COST: $15 to $100 The Sarasota Ballet will perform this holiday classic set to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s music performed by the Sarasota Orchestra. The Sarasota Ballet injects Sarasota’s circus heritage into the original story.

Fri Dec 27 – Mon Dec 30 • 7pm Sat Dec 28 – Sun Dec 29 • 2pm Tickets NOW on Sale!

Adults $16 • Children $12

For a list of local ev ents, or to submit your own, visit ThisWeekI nS

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

// BLACK TIE: CAMERA READY

15

Join us in celebrating our

10th ANNIVERSARY!

Betty Reeder, Joan Howe, Diane Curtis and Joan Emrich

Photos by Heather Merriman

CELEBRATE THE ARTS ON STAGE HONORING HOWARD MILLMAN Benefiting The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Fête Ballroom

PMP Sarasota Winter Residency

 Stan and Arlette Jacob, honoree Howard Millman and Steve Johnson

20 free musical events led by Itzhak Perlman and other acclaimed mentors

December 22, 2013-January 4, 2014 USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus

Cheryl Strzempka and Carol Murray

Eve Adams and Ollie Johnson

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bAypORT bEACh ANd TENNIS CLub Gulf views at this fabulous and friendly complex with tennis, clubhouse, swimmer’s pool, beautifully manicured grounds, private beach and bayside fishing pier that is fully funded.

Offered at $369,300

bAypORT bEACh ANd TENNIS CLub Lovely two bedroom, two bath condominium nestled comfortably in a lush tropical setting with a spacious, renovated eat-in kitchen that is open to the living area.

Offered at $359,500

CEdARS EAST Well maintained and turnkey furnished two bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhome in Cedars Tennis Resort. Anderson hurricane windows.

Offered at $321,500

RECENT SALES 640 Rountree 657 Halyard Lane Islander Club, #115 Marina Bay, #251 Promenade, #804 831 Bayport Way Mossy Oak Lane

MARk hubER 941.356.2435

jOyCE hubER 941.356.2434

$3,300,000 $1,795,000 $1,150,000 $900,000 $680,000 $332,000 $330,000

ERIN MCWhORTER 941.228.1405

mark.huber@sothebysrealty.com mark.huber@sothebysrealty.com || longboatkeylistings.com longboatkeylistings.com

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Each office Equal is independently Housing Opportunity. owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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